# Eric Williams: In the first edition of FOX Sports' Awards Ballot, Williams predicts the top five finishers for each major NFL award: Jahmyr Gibbs for Offensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett to repeat as Defensive Player of the Year, DeMeco Ryans for Coach of the Year, Jadarian Price for Offensive Rookie of the Year, Rueben Bain Jr. for Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Patrick Mahomes to win his third MVP.

**Claimed:** Sep 7, 2026
**Pundit:** Eric Williams — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/eric-williams
**Outlet:** Fox Sports — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/fox-sports
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-27-nfl-awards-predictions-will-matthew-stafford-patrick-mahomes-win-mvp

19 checkable claims — 5 award picks, 5 coach award picks, 5 top player lists, 2 depth chart calls and 2 player season numbers — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 12 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.

Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.

> I like him (and the Chiefs) to rebound from a poor performance last season to win his third MVP award.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Rueben Bain to record 10 sacks**
  - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Rueben Bain, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Most Valuable Player: 5. Lamar Jackson ... 4. Justin Herbert ... 3. Matthew Stafford ... 2. Josh Allen ... 1. Patrick Mahomes**
  - Kind: Top Player Lists
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **A.J. Brown to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: A.J. Brown, New England Patriots
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Defensive Rookie Of The Year: 5. Akheem Mesidor ... 4. Caleb Downs ... 3. Sonny Styles ... 2. David Bailey ... 1. Rueben Bain Jr.**
  - Kind: Top Player Lists
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Ben Johnson to win Coach of the Year**
  - Kind: Coach Award Picks
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Jadarian Price to win Offensive Rookie of the Year**
  - Kind: Award Picks · About: Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Myles Garrett to win Defensive Player of the Year**
  - Kind: Award Picks · About: Myles Garrett, Los Angeles Rams
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Demeco Ryans to win Coach of the Year**
  - Kind: Coach Award Picks
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Patrick Mahomes to win Most Valuable Player**
  - Kind: Award Picks · About: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Defensive Player Of The Year: 5. Trey Hendrickson ... 4. Devon Witherspoon ... 3. Will Anderson Jr. ... 2. Pat Surtain II ... 1. Myles Garrett**
  - Kind: Top Player Lists
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Offensive Rookie of the Year: 5. Fernando Mendoza ... 4. KC Concepcion ... 3. De'Zhaun Stribling ... 2. Jeremiyah Love ... 1. Jadarian Price**
  - Kind: Top Player Lists
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Jadarian Price to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Brian Schottenheimer to win Coach of the Year**
  - Kind: Coach Award Picks
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **John Harbaugh to win Coach of the Year**
  - Kind: Coach Award Picks
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Kevin O'Connell to win Coach of the Year**
  - Kind: Coach Award Picks
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Jahmyr Gibbs to record 2,000 rushing yards**
  - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Offensive Player Of The Year: 5. A.J. Brown ... 4. Christian McCaffrey ... 3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba ... 2. Puka Nacua ... 1. Jahmyr Gibbs**
  - Kind: Top Player Lists
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Rueben Bain to win Defensive Rookie of the Year**
  - Kind: Award Picks · About: Rueben Bain, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Jahmyr Gibbs to win Offensive Player of the Year**
  - Kind: Award Picks · About: Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Rueben Bain — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/rueben-bain
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/buccaneers
- A.J. Brown — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/a-j-brown
- New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/patriots
- Jadarian Price — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jadarian-price
- Seattle Seahawks — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/seahawks
- Myles Garrett — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/myles-garrett
- Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/rams
- Patrick Mahomes — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/patrick-mahomes
- Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chiefs
- Jahmyr Gibbs — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jahmyr-gibbs
- Detroit Lions — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/lions

## What others said about the same people

- Tyler Sullivan on Drew Lock: In an unsigned Week 2 odds roundup, the piece states that with Sam Darnold hurt, Drew Lock will likely start at quarterback for Seattle against Arizona. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8a14b5e6-066b-457f-b409-a3ddbd512aca (scored 0)
- Chris Brockman on Baker Mayfield: Brockman's season-preview overreactions: Fernando Mendoza becomes an Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist; Dak Prescott wins MVP and the Cowboys win the Super Bowl; Jesse Minter's Ravens win the AFC North; C.J. Stroud leads Houston to the AFC's No. 1 seed; Jonathan Taylor approaches 2,000 rushing yards; Baker Mayfield wins the NFC South, goes 12-5 and reaches the NFC title game while landing a $60 million-per-year deal; and Aaron Rodgers throws 35-plus touchdowns as the Steelers go 11-6 and win the North. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/d508736e-a824-4fa0-854c-df4ebdd9ef02 (scored 100)
- Jon Gruden on Baker Mayfield: The former Buccaneers head coach predicted that Tampa Bay and Baker Mayfield are closer on a new contract than believed and that an extension will get done. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/10bb8ff2-886c-488e-b693-fb4ea9dd5880 (scored 100)
- Joel Corry on Baker Mayfield: The unsigned CBS Sports analysis lays out the contract it believes Tampa Bay will have to give Mayfield at minimum: a two-year extension averaging $50 million per year with $110 million in guarantees and a no-trade clause. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8a840ff4-f1e5-48ca-bec6-ba41e9ef2396 (scored 100)
- Emmett Matasovsky on Christian Izien: Matasovsky says Dobbs is currently leading the backup quarterback race and suggests Christian Izien may be pressed into a starting safety role in Week 1 while Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph rehab. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9715ee92-1646-4ee4-8911-e3e4cbae9027 (scored 0)
- Michael Hanich on Bud Clark: Hanich suggests Nick Emmanwori may miss Week 1 after ankle surgery, and that Noah Igbinoghene is making a strong case to be the Seahawks' Week 1 starting nickel, with Bud Clark also possibly stepping into a starting role if Emmanwori is out. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c15b8321-a10e-421f-8076-039ca96a05a8 (scored 0)

## More coach award picks

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Chris Brockman: Brockman argued that Kyle Shanahan deserves Coach of the Year after the 49ers' road win in Philadelphia, a take Rich Eisen partly called an overreaction since it's a regular-season award. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/4da2fac2-7a9e-4cf2-a606-9dc6c7fd548d (scored 0)
- Pat Gustavson: Gustafson picked the Bears, Eagles, Rams, Patriots, Jaguars and Texans in the wild card round, the Rams and Bears in the NFC, the Broncos and Patriots in the AFC, and the Patriots to beat the Bears in the Super Bowl. His awards slate included Stafford for MVP, Puka for OPOY and Liam Cohen for Coach of the Year. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/671b9c4f-1f25-4f11-ad26-16a1126ea3b8 (scored 0)
- Brandon Carney: Carney made a full playoff bracket, picking the Bears, Niners, Rams, Patriots, Jaguars and Texans in the wild card round, then Seahawks and Rams in the NFC divisional, Broncos and Patriots in the AFC, with the Rams beating the Patriots in the Super Bowl. He also gave award picks including Stafford for MVP and Vrabel for Coach of the Year. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/88101820-7344-4240-93f1-caa15fe95de9 (scored 100)
- Rich Eisen: Eisen gave his Week 13 power rankings, with the Rams first, Patriots second and the Cowboys entering at No. 10, and also named New England and Philadelphia as the first teams to clinch playoff spots, picked Seattle to beat Minnesota, and tabbed Drake Maye as an MVP finalist and Mike Vrabel as Coach of the Year. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/960141f1-11b7-4c57-9ef8-0f7b8b41bc99 (scored 100)
- Chris Brockman: Chris Brockman said Baker Mayfield will finish no lower than third in MVP voting, named Kyle Shanahan the coach of the year front-runner, and predicted both the Giants and Jets will pick in the top five of next year's draft. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cdde2d01-017b-4967-b1e9-ecfac647e306 (scored 0)
- Rich Eisen: Rich Eisen reaffirmed his pick of the Lions to win the NFC while insisting the Eagles remain the team to beat, predicted the Colts beat the Cardinals on a last-second field goal, said the Chargers will not miss the playoffs, and expects Jake Browning to keep starting in Cincinnati and JJ McCarthy to return as Minnesota's starter. He also praised Jonathan Taylor as the best running back and OPOY-caliber, called Emeka Abuka the offensive rookie of the year, agreed Kyle Shanahan is the coach of the year front-runner, and said the Jets will pick in the top five. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/bdb0846e-88b6-4111-b16c-586fd6fc0435 (scored 0)

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Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages.

Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology

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