Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley, LB Zack Baun, CB Quinyon Mitchell, CB Cooper DeJean, and DC Vic Fangio were all named finalists for regular season individual awards by the Associated Press. The winners will be announced on Thursday night the week of the Super Bowl.
A look at each player, and the awards they are up for:
RB Saquon Barkley, MVP
Barkley became the ninth player in NFL history to top 2,000 yards in a season, and he probably would have broken the single-season all-time rushing record if he had played Week 18 against the Giants. He was already named First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowler.
Other nominees:
- QB Josh Allen, Bills
- QB Joe Burrow, Bengals
- QB Jared Goff, Lions
- QB Lamar Jackson, Ravens
Chances of winning: Slim. The MVP is almost certain to go to a quarterback, likely to be either the Ravens' Lamar Jackson or the Bills' Josh Allen.
RB Saquon Barkley, Offensive Player of the Year
The NFL should really have three "MVP" awards: QB MVP, Non-QB MVP, and Defensive MVP. But whatever. Barkley is up for two awards.
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Other nominees:
- QB Joe Burrow, Bengals
- WR Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals
- RB Derrick Henry, Ravens
- QB Lamar Jackson, Ravens
Chances of winning: High. It's silly to give this award to a quarterback, and Barkley is very clearly the best candidate of the non-QBs.
LB Zack Baun: Defensive Player of the Year
Baun was the leading vote-getter among linebackers for All-Pro voting. His inclusion among the Defensive Player of the Year nominees is deserved, but also somewhat surprising because his success came from out of nowhere this season. But he was so good that people took notice nationally.
Other nominees:
- EDGE Myles Garrett, Browns
- EDGE Trey Hendrickson, Bengals
- CB Patrick Surtain II, Broncos
- EDGE T.J. Watt, Steelers
Chances of winning: Low. My guess is that it will go to Surtain.
CBs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean: Defensive Rookie of the Year
Mitchell had an excellent rookie season, making 46 tackles and breaking up 12 passes in 16 games. He did not have a regular season INT, but he collected his first pick in the playoffs against the Packers.
DeJean also didn't have a regular season INT, but he had 51 tackles, a forced fumble, and six pass breakups while solidifying the slot corner spot in the Eagles' defense.
Other nominees:
- DT Braden Fiske, Rams
- EDGE Chop Robinson, Dolphins
- EDGE Jared Verse, Rams
Chances of winning: Mitchell has a better chance than DeJean, but it'll probably go to new Philly nemesis Jared Verse.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio
Fangio's contributions to this team in one small chart:
| Stat | 2023 | 2024 |
| NFL Rank: Yards allowed | 26 | 1 |
| NFL Rank: Points allowed | 30 | 2 |
Yes, some of the positions in the Eagles' defense were upgraded, notably at CB and LB, but it was Fangio who pieced it all together.
Other nominees:
- OC Joe Brady, Bills
- DC Brian Flores, Vikings
- DC Aaron Glenn, Lions
- OC Ben Johnson, Lions
Chances of winning: Moderate. No assistant coach has meant more to their team this season than Fangio has meant to the Eagles, but all of the other nominees here are worthy. Johnson and Glenn got head coaching jobs because of the seasons they had with the Lions, while Flores was a major reason for the Vikings' surprise season.
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