Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.<\/a><\/p>\n Ultimately, Maye elevated his teammates more. As Bill Barnwell points out, three different Patriot wideouts ranked in the top-six<\/a> when it came to catch rate over expected this fall. Either that’s because Stefon Diggs (sure), Mack Hollins and Kayshon Boutte (eh….) are singular presences and some of the best receivers in the league. Or, it’s because the guy throwing them the ball is putting it in places where they can make a play that other quarterbacks can’t. Factor in Maye’s scrambling ability and the drop-off in supporting cast between he and Stafford and, yep, that’s my QB1.<\/p>\n Offensive Player of the Year: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks<\/a> This was a fierce battle between Smith-Njigba and division rival Puka Nacua. Smith-Njigba had more receiving yards, more yards per target and a slightly higher degree of difficulty via average target depth (11.3 to 9.4). Nacua had more catches, more yards per route run<\/a> (3.73 to 3.61\u2026 no other qualified wideout was higher than 2.7) and a better catch rate.<\/p>\n Ultimately, JSN got the call because of what he meant to Seattle\u2019s passing game. There was no Davante Adams to buttress him. This is a man who faced brackets throughout 2025 because teams weren\u2019t afraid of anyone else in the Seattle passing game. Even as Sam Darnold faded he knew the easiest solution to his problems was winging the ball to his all-world wideout. That added degree of difficulty tipped the scale in the Seahawk\u2019s favor.<\/p>\n Defensive Player of the Year: Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns<\/a><\/p>\n I mean, come on.<\/p>\n Offensive Rookie of the Year: Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina PanthersDefensive Rookie of the Year: Carson Schwesinger, Cleveland Browns<\/p>\n Schwesinger was an easy choice. No rookie shares the overall impact he had on the game, even if it meant toiling for a Cleveland defense that had to do a ton of heavy lifting.<\/p>\n McMillan was trickier. Tyler Shough’s ability to adjust as games wore on and lead a depleted Saints offense to respectability made him a viable candidate, but he only made nine starts. Jaxson Dart and Cam Ward managed bursts of excitement against below-average play thanks to a lack of above-average veterans around them. Emeka Egbuka and Tyler Warren both faded with their teams’ postseason hopes down the stretch.<\/p>\n McMillan, however, was a rising tide for an inconsistent Bryce Young. His ability to beat bracketed coverage to find space OR haul in contested catches through traffic made him an asset and was the difference between Carolina winning the NFC South or spending another year as an also-ran. Leading all rookies in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns didn’t hurt, either.<\/p>\n Comeback Player of the Year: Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints From missing nine games due to injury and a spot on the trading block to 100 catches and a positive influence on two different young quarterbacks. Olave proved his value in 2025.<\/p>\n Most Improved Player of the Year: Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears<\/a><\/p>\n Williams’ slow starts are a concern, but he showcased his ability to rise to the moment and make the Bears a legitimate Super Bowl contender. That was more impressive than breakthrough years for Smith-Njigba, Maye, George Pickens, Will Anderson Jr., Javonte Williams or a handful of other viable candidates.<\/p>\n Coach of the Year: Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars<\/p>\n Like running back, there are so many deserving candidates and so few spots. With apologies to Mike Macdonald, Mike Vrabel, Ben Johnson, DeMeco Ryans, Kyle Shanahan and Sean Payton, Coen’s in-season adjustments to make a flawed Jacksonville team an absolute wagon down the stretch \u2014 maximizing Trevor Lawrence’s strengths and stapling together a top-three defense over the last half of the season \u2014 made him my huckleberry.<\/p>\n Executive of the Year: Eliot Wolf, New England Patriots<\/p>\n From 4-13 to 14-3 thanks to Maye’s improvements and massive contributions from new arrivals in both free agency and the draft. That’ll do it.<\/p>\n Assistant Coach of the Year: Klint Kubiak, Seattle Seahawks<\/p>\n Kubiak has Seattle’s defense playing like a furious swarm of bees at all times.<\/p>\n Now, on to my first-team All-Pro picks. I’ll break out a few selections I debated internally.<\/p>\n 2025 NFL first-team All-Pros<\/p>\n Quarterback: Drake Maye, New England Patriots<\/p>\n Running Back: Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons and Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts<\/p>\n Tailback is a position with two available slots and at least five worthy candidates. It hurt to leave Christian McCaffrey off the list, but his below-average running \u2014 minus-166 rushing yards over expected (RYOE) were worst in the NFL<\/a> \u2014 was enough to elevate Taylor to the first team. While the Colts’ star faded down the stretch he was also hamstrung by declining quarterback play that shrank head coach Shane Steichen’s playbook.<\/p>\n Wide Receiver: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks and Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams<\/p>\n Tight End: Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals<\/p>\n Center: Aaron Brewer, Miami Dolphins<\/p>\n Guard: Quinn Meinerz, Denver Broncos and Joe Thuney, Chicago Bears<\/p>\n Offensive Tackle: Garrett Bolles, Denver Broncos and Darnell Wright, Chicago Bears<\/p>\n Defensive End: Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns and Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans<\/a><\/p>\n Let’s talk about Anderson over Detroit Lions star Aidan Hutchinson.<\/p>\n Hutchinson led the NFL in pressures (89) and ranked fourth in sacks (14.5). But Anderson had 85 pressures in nearly 140 fewer pass rushing snaps. His 19.5 percent pressure rate was higher than any other full-time pass rusher but Micah Parsons (who got a first-team nod at outside linebacker despite missing the tail end of the season with a torn ACL) and Nik Bonitto (who made it at the other OLB slot).<\/p>\n On the other hand, Anderson got to clean up some of the chaos sewn by Danielle Hunter. Hutchinson got 11 sacks from rotational rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad, but no other Detroit Lion had more than six quarterback hits. A tough call, for sure. Anderson\u2019s ability to do a little more with less made him the response to a question without a wrong answer.<\/p>\n Defensive Tackle: Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans and Zach Allen, Denver Broncos<\/p>\n With apologies to Cam Heyward, who is 37 years old and still logged more snaps in 2025 than any other interior lineman,<\/a> as well as Jordan Davis and Derrick Brown (who is a 3-4 end but still fits the bill).<\/p>\n![\"Jan](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/88161675007-usatsi-27927190.jpg\")
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