Welcome to the 2018-19 NFL First Quarter Awards. The first quarter of the NFL season has concluded, and we’ve already seen some great football. Who would have thought that rookie WR Calvin Ridley would have more touchdowns than Odell Beckham Jr AND Antonio Brown combined?
On top of that Baker Mayfield became a starter, Fitz-magic came and went, and the Raiders made the biggest mistake of sports in 2018. But with every league comes awards, and four weeks into the NFL season we need look at who stood out and who are the front-runners for the NFL’s set of honors.
Most Valuable Player – Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes
This award could’ve gone to a variety of players including Alvin Kamara, Khalil Mack, Jared Goff, and Todd Gurley. Mahomes, however, just seems to be a step ahead of every other player in the league so far. The second-year QB has led the Chiefs to a 4-0 start on the year. He has 14 passing touchdowns which (second-most through four games in NFL history), a six-touchdown game against the Steelers, and a comeback win against a division rival in Denver.
The next quarter of the season will show what Mahomes is really about with games against the Jaguars, Patriots, and Bengals. Mahomes, however, with 1,200 yards, 14 TD, and a 126.5 passer rating, looks to be the guy that can take Kansas City far this season. He’s without a doubt the NFL’s best player thus far.
Defensive Player of the Year – Bears LB Khalil Mack
Everyone knows the front office is responsible for trades. In this case, they were responsible for trading one of the best defensive players in the NFL. Was it new head coach Jon Gruden? Was it GM Reggie Mckenzie? Either way, this was a huge mistake. Khalil Mack has led the Bears defense and proved to be a nightmare for opposing offenses. Mack has five sacks, one interception, and a forced fumble in EVERY game this season. This has helped give the Bears the fourth best defense in the league and first place in the NFC North.
It’s no question that Mack can make the Raiders regret the trade even more by being the league’s best defensive player. He’s no one to mess with, and everyone’s here for the ride. Mack is showing no signs of slowing down. If he keeps up this pace, he will certainly show he deserved the highest contract for a defensive player in history.
Offensive Rookie of the Year – Falcons WR Calvin Ridley
Roll Tide. Calvin Ridley undoubtedly deserves this award thus far. After a disappointing game in week one against the Eagles, he’s bounced back in huge fashion. He’s totaled 264 yards, first among all rookies. In regards to touchdowns, well, he leads the league in them.
On a team with Julio Jones, Ridley has become Matt Ryan’s number one target in the red zone. With Julio struggling to reach the end zone, it should be no problem with Ridley lining up with him. If Ridley can keep up this level a play, he’ll be a big threat for the Falcons to use as the season goes on.
Defensive Rookie of the Year – Colts LB Darius Leonard
This is an unusual name, but he’s a beast nonetheless. Leonard is one of the Colts’ second-round selections, and he’s proving he should’ve been a first-round pick. He leads the NFL in tackles with 54. That’s the most tackles through four games since Zack Thomas in the 2006-07 season.
In every game this season, he has at least three tackles for a loss which is pure dominance. The Colts LB is playing at an All-Pro level, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in contention with Khalil Mack for Defensive Payer of the Year. In addition to all of this, he remains the only player with 25+ tackles and 5+ sacks.
Coach of the Year – Titans HC Mike Vrabel
This team has probably faced all the adversity you possibly can as a team. Lightning interrupted this team in their week one game against the Dolphins. They lost their franchise QB Marcus Mariota in week 2 and brutally struggled against the Eagles and Jaguars. Somehow, this team is 3-1 with wins over the defending world champions Eagles, the best defense in the league in Jacksonville, and division rival Texans.
How have they been able to accomplish all of this? They’ve been led by HC Mike Vrabel. No matter how the Titans won their games, wins are wins. Tennessee is legit in the AFC with Mariota, Malcolm Butler, Dion Lewis, and Derrick Henry. Young, hungry, and talented players are what will take this team beyond expectations.
Bonus: Non-QB Player of the Year – Saints RB Alvin Kamara
This kid is a stud. He has without a doubt been one of the best players in the NFL this season. The 23-year-old has 275 rushing yards (eighth in the league) and five touchdowns (second in the league) so far this season. He concluded the first quarter of the NFL season with a 134-yard, three-touchdown game against the Giants.
With Mark Ingram coming back in week five, don’t expect this kid to slow down. They are the best RB duo in the league. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Kamara’s stats continue to go up as the season rolls on.
Do you have a different opinion on who the NFL’s best have been so far this season? Did I get all these awards wrong? Will this list of candidates change by February? Let me know.