Jack McKessy· Aug 2, 2026
McKessy makes way-too-early 2022 NFL awards picks: Mahomes for MVP, Jonathan Taylor for OPOY, Aaron Donald (or Micah Parsons if Donald retires) for DPOY, Kenny Pickett for OROY, Kayvon Thibodeaux for DROY, Michael Thomas for Comeback Player, and Mike Tomlin for Coach of the Year.
“The fifth-year starter will return to his early-season form with no picks in September and ride that momentum to high production and his second MVP award.”
published in writing · The Draft Network · read the original (as archived Feb 18, 2022) →
The page this came from has since been taken down. The archived copy above is the record of what it said.
9 checkable claims — 7 award picks, 1 coach award pick and 1 position order call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 11 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 9 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 36.3 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Their call against what happened
positional finishTheir call against what actually happened.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
9 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Position Order CallsKenny PickettAug 2, 2026
Kenny Pickett to be first or second quarterback off the board quarterback off the board
“Pickett will likely be the first or second quarterback off the board in this year's draft”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 36.26+63.74 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2022
- naive:
- naming one of the 9 at random averages 36.26
- skill:
- 63.74
- player:
- Kenny Pickett
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- credit halves every two places
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 36.26
- position:
- quarterback
- class size:
- 9
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual order:
- 1
- predicted order:
- 1–2
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- Award PicksAaron DonaldAug 2, 2026
Aaron Donald to win Defensive Player of the Year
“DPOY: Aaron Donald OR Micah Parsons ... it would be hard not to pick him here.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksKenny PickettAug 2, 2026
Kenny Pickett to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
“OROY: Kenny Pickett ... I still feel pretty decent about going with Pickett here.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksMicah ParsonsDallas CowboysAug 2, 2026
Micah Parsons to win Defensive Player of the Year
“If Donald does retire, it's Parsons who takes home this award.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksKayvon ThibodeauxAug 2, 2026
Kayvon Thibodeaux to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
“DROY: Kayvon Thibodeaux ... Thibodeaux is probably going to dominate no matter where he ends up.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksPatrick MahomesKansas City ChiefsAug 2, 2026
Patrick Mahomes to win MVP
“MVP: Patrick Mahomes ... ride that momentum to high production and his second MVP award.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksJonathan TaylorAug 2, 2026
Jonathan Taylor to win Offensive Player of the Year
“OPOY: Jonathan Taylor ... That being said, Taylor is my choice here.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Coach Award PicksPittsburgh SteelersAug 2, 2026
Mike Tomlin to win Coach of the Year
“COTY: Mike Tomlin ... that could absolutely be enough to earn him his second Coach of the Year award.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksMichael ThomasNew Orleans SaintsAug 2, 2026
Michael Thomas to win Comeback Player of the Year
“CPOY: Michael Thomas ... Thomas is a pretty safe bet here though.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Mike MoraitisTrade and Signing Calls · DaRon BlandMiss · 0Moraitis names five Cowboys he expects to be playing their final season opener in Dallas in 2026: George Pickens (likely tag-and-trade or departure), Malik Hooker, Luke Schoonmaker, DeMarvion Overshown and DaRon Bland.
- Jason McIntyreTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldMiss · 0Filling in for Colin Cowherd, McIntyre argued the 49ers' window is closed amid a brutal injury list and record travel, floated a Bijan Robinson trade to the Bears, predicted the Lions can win the NFC North, doubted Atlanta is even a playoff team, said Baker Mayfield's Tampa run ends after this season, and delivered a top-10 quarterback ranking.
- Nick ShookMock Draft Picks · Dillon ThienemanClose · 57Shook walks through his full first-round mock draft, assigning a prospect to every pick from No. 1 to No. 32, headlined by Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders, David Bailey to the Jets and Jeremiah Love to the Cardinals in the top three.
- Bucky BrooksMock Draft Picks · Carnell TateHit · 81In a mock draft covering the first 14 picks, Brooks made the odd-numbered selections: Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders at No. 1, a Miami offensive lineman to Arizona at No. 3, Caleb Downs to the Giants at No. 5, Ohio State's Arvell Reese to Washington at No. 7, Carnell Tate to Kansas City at No. 9, tight end Kenyon Sadiq to Miami at No. 11, and Spencer Fano to the Rams at No. 13.
- Colin CowherdSeason Win Totals · Dallas CowboysHit · 100Cowherd projects the NFC East with the Giants winning the division ahead of Philadelphia, Washington and Dallas, pegging the Cowboys as a six- or seven-win team. He also expects Malik Willis to land a big free-agent deal, Kayvon Thibodeaux to be moved, and Baltimore to lose Isaiah Likely, and he floats the Rams reaching on Ty Simpson late in round one.
- Jake CielyTrade and Signing Calls · Romeo DoubsMiss · 0On a Fantasy Pros free-agency show, Jake Seely gave his projected 2026 landing spots for a long list of free agents, including Aaron Rodgers to Minnesota, Daniel Jones back to Indianapolis, Malik Willis to Miami, Alec Pierce to the Raiders, Mike Evans to the 49ers, Deebo Samuel to Pittsburgh, Kenneth Walker to Arizona, Breece Hall to Kansas City and Kyle Pitts and Dallas Goedert re-signing with their current teams.
More award picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Gregg RosenthalAward Picks · Tristan WirfsMiss · 0Rosenthal picked Patrick Mahomes for MVP, Micah Parsons for Defensive Player of the Year, Jahmyr Gibbs for Offensive Player of the Year, Aaron Glenn for Coach of the Year, Travis Hunter for both Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year, Bill Callahan for Assistant Coach of the Year and Tristan Wirfs for Protector of the Year. He also made depth-chart calls on Adam Thielen and Jalen Coker.
- Jourdan RodrigueAward Picks · Penei SewellMiss · 0Rodrigue picked Patrick Mahomes for MVP, Jared Verse for Defensive Player of the Year, Ja'Marr Chase for Offensive Player of the Year, Mike Vrabel for Coach of the Year, TreVeyon Henderson for Offensive Rookie of the Year and Abdul Carter for Defensive Rookie of the Year, with Jesse Minter for Assistant Coach of the Year and Penei Sewell for Protector of the Year.
- Brandon SneideAward Picks · Drake MayeMiss · 0Snyder picks the Seahawks to beat the Patriots 31-23 in Super Bowl 60, believing Seattle pulls away late, and says Drake Maye will finish second in MVP voting behind Matthew Stafford.
- Nick WrightAward Picks · Rashid ShaheedMiss · 0Nick picked Seattle to win the Super Bowl 27-17, citing Seattle's defense, coaching against young quarterbacks and schedule strength, and named Rasheed Shaheed as his dark horse Super Bowl MVP.
- Chris BroussardAward Picks · Cooper KuppMiss · 0Broussard picked New England to beat Seattle 24-21, with Drake May winning Super Bowl MVP, and named Cooper Kupp as his dark horse MVP.
- Eric ManginiAward Picks · Drake MayeMiss · 0Mangini picked the Patriots 23-20 with Drake May as Super Bowl MVP, and earlier named Kayshon Boutte ("Kaeshawn Booty") as his dark horse MVP.