Odds: +500
It is crazy to think 2023 was a “down year” for Mahomes. Averaging 4,791 passing yards and 38 passing touchdowns from 2018-2022, Mahomes finished last season with 4,183 passing yards and 27 passing touchdowns, leading the Kansas City Chiefs to back-to-back Super Bowl wins. Early season struggles from the wide receivers were attributed to Mahomes seeing regression in his overall stats. Still, rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice blossomed into the team’s WR1 following Week 5, and the offense gelled for the remainder of the season. Rice enters the 2024 season as Kansas City’s WR1, and although a suspension lingers, the Chiefs drafted wide receiver Xavier Worthy to give them a much-needed speed dimension to their offense. Offseason signing Marquise Brown was poised to give Kansas City’s wide receiver room a veteran presence, but his debut will be delayed as he works his way back from a shoulder injury suffered in Training Camp. Should third-year wideout Skyy Moore take a leap this season, the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes should see a quick start from their offense. Patrick Mahomes is primed to post numbers in line with his career averages while on the hunt for a Super Bowl three-peat.
Odds: +800
Hired as head coach of the Chicago Bears heading into the 2022 season, Eberflus faced adversity. GM Ryan Poles stripped the roster down to its bones and admirably rebuilt the roster. The defensive-minded Eberflus had Chicago’s defensive unit firing on all cylinders by the end of the 2023 season. The October 31 acquisition of Montez Sweat was the shot in the arm the defense needed, as he totaled six sacks in his nine games with Chicago. Eberflus and the Bears look to build off 2023’s 7-10 season, and the offseason additions of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, first overall pick Caleb Williams, ninth overall pick Rome Odunze, running back D’Andre Swift, and wide receiver Keenan Allen have the Bears poised for a playoff push. Chicago earning a playoff berth should lead to Eberflus winning Coach of the Year, but if they win their first playoff game, Eberflus is a lock to win AP Coach of the Year.
Odds: +1000
Chase finished the 2023 season with a career-high 100 receptions. The most impressive part of Chase’s season was the fact that an injury saw quarterback Joe Burrow limited to 10 games. The 2024 Training Camp has been rough for Cincinnati as they have dealt with several injuries, and some have been season-ending. Joe Burrow declared himself ready for Week 1, August 16th, and Burrow is back to 100%. You should see special things from Ja’Marr Chase as he enters his fourth NFL season.
Odds: +650
Watt finished the 2023 season with 68 total tackles, 19 sacks, and four forced fumbles. His numbers saw him finish second to Myles Garrett’s 42 total tackles, 14 sacks, and four forced fumbles for 2023 Defensive Player of the Year. It seems like a head-scratcher, but there is no question that T.J. Watt enters the 2024 season with a chip on his shoulder the size of Mount Everest. From 2021-2023, Watt averaged 57 total tackles, 15 sacks, and three forced fumbles while being limited to 10 games in 2022. A poised and eager T.J. Watt leads a top defensive squad in Pittsburgh and will do everything in his power to not only win the 2024 AP Defensive Player of the Year but show the voters they got it wrong in 2023.
Odds: +175
Rodgers heading to the Jets had Super Bowl aspirations written all over it, but his 2023 season, and first with New York, ended less than five minutes into the first quarter of the 2023 season. The Jets would have made the playoffs last season with a healthy Rodgers, but coming back from an Achilles injury will make a playoff berth sweeter in 2024. A 100% healthy season from Rodgers easily sees him win AP Comeback Player of the Year. The offensive weapons are in place, and the defense is primed for a top-5 NFL finish. The only player that has a chance of topping Rodgers for the ward is Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow.
Odds: +140
He has his critics, but Williams will be a star in the NFL. There will be a learning curve, but the number one overall pick has looked poised and decisive in his two preseason games. Williams steps into a situation that many rookie quarterbacks would dream of a solid defense, an offensive line that is more than adequate, and the likes of D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, Cole Kmet, D’Andre Swift, and Rome Odunze as a supporting cast. The stars have not only aligned for Williams to win AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, but the Chicago Bears organization may finally see a quarterback pass for 4,000 yards in the team’s 104-year history. Caleb Williams not winning Offensive Rookie of the Year could be worse than the Steve Bartman incident in 2003.
Odds: +1100
Aaron Donald retired following the conclusion of the 2023 season, and the Rams used the 19th pick to select linebacker Jared Verse. Los Angeles has seen a decrease in defense, especially sack totals, since 2021. 2021 saw the team finish third in the league with 50 sacks, followed by 38 (2022) and 41 (2023). Jared Verse adds a much-needed top defensive player to the roster, and he was arguably one of the top defensive players in the 2024 draft class. His combination of size and speed and ability to get to the quarterback will be on full display during his 2024 rookie season. There will be other players that enter the picture early, but Verse will be the last man standing when AP Defensive Rookie of the Year is announced.
Odds: +1600
Waldron became Seattle’s offensive coordinator heading into the 2021 season. During his time as Seattle’s OC, Waldron saw the offense average 16th in passing yards, 14th in points per game, and 17th in total yards. 2021 saw a lackluster performance during Russell Wilson’s final year with the Seahawks, but 2022 saw the emergence of veteran QB Geno Smith, and Seattle’s offense saw an average finish of 13th in passing yards and points per game following the 2021 season.
Waldron took over as Chicago’s offensive coordinator on January 22nd and will put into place an offense that will feature rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, wide receivers D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, & rookie Rome Odunze, tight end Cole Kmet, running back D’Andre Swift. The offense is headed for heights the Bears organization, let alone its fan base, could have only dreamed of. Waldron’s work in Seattle speaks for itself, but Chicago’s offensive weapons should see Waldron’s name as a front-runner for head coaching jobs prior to the 2024 season. Shane Waldron is destined to lead Chicago’s offense to great heights and will win the 2024 AP Assistant Coach of the Year. The Chicago Bears organization could see rookie quarterback, Caleb Williams, head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron handed hardware following the 2024 season.
