Transparency Item: This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.
September marks the end of a long, long, wait for some of America’s most dedicated sports fans — the beginning of football season. Last season had some winners and losers, improvements, worries and many other factors that spilled into this upcoming season.
Here’s my preseason understanding of it all.
Super Bowl Pick: Ravens v. Rams
Last year, it looked like the Baltimore Ravens’ year. Quarterback Lamar Jackson and Co., would walk on the field against MVP candidates, experienced coaches, some of the hottest teams in the NFL and would walk out leaving them confused. They looked unbeatable… until the Kansas City Chiefs.
Before quarterback Patrick Mahomes could go to the Super Bowl, he needed that loss to the league’s best and most experienced quarterback, Tom Brady, something that could serve the same purpose for Jackson. The Ravens lost some key players from last year but made promising moves, and they look ready for another Super Bowl run.
In their 2021-22 Super Bowl campaign, the Los Angeles Rams looked like the Avengers. With one of the best coaches and players in the league, it almost seemed like a question of how instead of if.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford had waited his whole career for a moment like that, and he wouldn’t let that opportunity pass him up. The Super Bowl victory came, but the next year, it felt like the Avengers had disassembled.
Last year, the Rams began building the team back up, starting from their rookies. Come January, they were a serious threat to other teams’ path to Vegas. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald’s retirement grabbed the headlines for their offseason, but the Rams roster underwent improvements through free agency and the draft.
Take the leadership of Head Coach Sean McVay, Stafford and wide receiver Cooper Kupp and combine it with the energy of their first and second year studs, this is a real competitor.
Super Bowl Winner: Ravens
The biggest mistake the Ravens made last year was switching their identity in the most important game of Jackson’s career. The Ravens had established themselves as a bruising run team in an era of lights out passers, and for some odd reason abandoned that on the national platform.
The Ravens biggest mistake in the AFC Championship game was trying to turn Jackson into Mahomes at such a vital moment. Following that loss, the Ravens didn’t add a lot of players in the offseason, but they added one that really made a statement: running back Derrick Henry.
This seemed like an apology from head coach John Harbaugh. He recognized the mistake he made and let the Ravens know how serious they are about getting it done in the postseason.
Add the growing experience and skill of players like Jackson, linebacker Roquan Smith and safety Kyle Hamilton, and the sting from last season, this is the year to get it done.
Most Valuable Player: C.J. Stroud
In recent years, we’ve seen a couple quarterbacks take the MVP in just their second season in the league: Mahomes and Jackson.
These are two generational talents who can very well go down as two of the best in their position ever. They’ve established a tier of their own amongst the current generation of quarterbacks.
C.J. Stroud looks ready to take that jump, primed to join elite company. From his rookie year, we saw a quarterback who looked like a veteran in the pocket take a leadership role and spread the offense in a truly remarkable way.
Offensive Player of the Year: CeeDee Lamb
We have now entered the era of wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. If you have any doubt that he will be a top three wide receiver again this year, just pull up some highlights. Crisp route running and a great connection with quarterback Dak Prescott who just looks more comfortable by the year.
On top of all this, he just received a big contract and is in the perfect situation to prove why he deserves it.
Lamb just finished an impressive 4th year campaign pulling in 135 receptions, 1,749 yards, and 12 touchdowns. Any level of improvement should be enough to push him the conversation of Offensive Player of the Year.
Defensive Player of the Year: T.J. Watt
Due to the exciting nature of a high scoring league, all the focus on today’s NFL falls to offensive players.
Quarterbacks and wide receivers hold the household names while defensive players live in their shadow, despite leaving the same influence on the field. The same way an elite wide receiver or running back can change an offense, an edge rusher or cornerback can turn a team around.
Year in and year out, linebacker T.J. Watt is one of the biggest difference makers on either side of the ball. When he’s in, the Pittsburgh Steelers become a top defense as well as one of the league’s most unpredictable teams. You can never count the Steelers out when 90 is on the field.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Caleb Williams
The question we’ve been asking since quarterback Caleb Williams received the Heisman Trophy: how will it translate to the league?
When quarterbacks go as the first pick, especially in recent years, we’ve seen struggle with no surprise as the 1st overall pick often goes to the team most in need. Quarterbacks are expected to revolutionize a franchise before they take their first NFL snap, but Williams has a different outlook.
The Chicago Bears were already looking like a team that can handle themselves deep into the season on both sides of the ball, add wide receiver Keenan Allen, one of the most experienced and skilled receivers in the league, Williams has all the tools to prove himself.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Nate Wiggins
The first round of this year’s NFL Draft was highlighted by quarterbacks, wide receivers and offensive linemen, but there were some great defensive talents that went under the radar.
Deep into the 1st round, the Ravens used the 30th pick of the draft in true Ravens fashion. They selected cornerback Nate Wiggins, a true athlete whose play style fits perfectly with the high speed, athletic, gritty style the Ravens defense has evolved into.
With the leadership of Smith aided by the all-pro presence in a locker room consisting of cornerback Marlon Humphrey, Hamilton and safety Marcus Williams, this Ravens defense looks great, and Wiggins looks like he’s in the best situation possible.
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Contact Nick Charkhedian via email: nareg.charkhedian@pepperdine.edu
