Category: NFL Awards

Eagles CB duo named finalist for AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

Eagles CB duo of Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean named finalist for Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

The Eagles added cornerbacks with their first two draft picks in last April’s selection process, and it was a significant reason for the dramatic turnaround on defense.

The Associated Press revealed their 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year finalist, and Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell were named.

DeJean was among the highest-rated players in the slot, holding opponents to 50 receptions. He had five pass breakups, and quarterbacks had an 82.2 passer rating against him.

Mitchell ranked 3rd among NFL CBs with 16 forced incompletions, trailing only Zyon McCollum (17) and Denzel Ward (17). He was 3rd among CBs in yards allowed per coverage snap (0.8) behind Pat Surtain (0.6) and Derek Stingley (0.7) (min. 600 coverage snaps).

Rams defensive tackle Braden Fiske led the team, and all rookies had 8 1/2 sacks. He had 51 pressures, two forced fumbles and recoveries, 10 tackles for loss, and 10 quarterback hits.

Dolphins edge Chop Robinson had six sacks, 20 pressures, and eight tackles for loss.

Rams edge Jared Verse had 4 1/2 sacks but led all rookies in quarterback hits (18), pressures (77) and hurries (56). He also had 11 tackles for loss.

Ravens RB Derrick Henry named a finalist for AP Offensive Player of the Year

Ravens RB Derrick Henry named a finalist for AP Offensive Player of the Year

Derrick Henry joined the Ravens on a two year and made an already dangerous offense nearly impossible to stop.   Henry battled Saquon Barkley for the rushing title, and he’s been rewarded as a finalist for the Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year award.

Saquon Barkley, Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Henry, and teammate Lamar Jackson are finalists for the award.

Chase won the receiving triple crown, leading the league with 127 receptions, 1,708 yards, and 17 TDs. The Bengals’ star wide receiver was a unanimous selection for All-Pro.

Henry, the 2020 Offensive Player of the Year, had 1,921 yards rushing and 16 TDs in his first season with the Ravens.

Eagles linebacker Zack Baun named a finalist for NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year

Eagles linebacker Zack Baun named a finalist for NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year

Zack Baun has a true rags-to-riches story, signing a one-year deal with Philadelphia last offseason under the guise that he’d have a chance to earn snaps as a pass rusher and potential special teams dynamo.

Fast-forward almost a full calendar year, and Baun earned the Eagles’ starting inside linebacker job. He propelled that opportunity into a Pro Bowl nod and All-Pro honors. Now, a star linebacker set to enter free agency, Baun can add Defensive Player of the Year finalist to his resume.

Baun was outstanding in his first year, recording 150 tackles, 11 for loss, 3.5 sacks, 5 QB hits, 14 QB pressures, five forced fumbles, an interception, and a fumble recovery while playing 95 percent of the snaps before resting in Week 18.

In the Eagles’ NFC Wild Card win over the Green Bay Packers on January 12, Baun logged eight tackles, one interception, and one pass deflection. Baun had six tackles, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended in the divisional-round win over the Rams.

Spotrac’s market value for Baun is currently a 2-year, $19.4 million contract. After rolling over $10 million, the Eagles will have about $30 million in salary cap space. 

Baun could land a deal comparable to Matt Milano, but Howie Roseman not signing the linebacker to an extension by now could give fans and experts some pause on what could transpire.

Philadelphia doesn’t like to draft linebackers high, let alone spend significantly at the position.

Eagles RB Saquon Barkley named a finalist for MVP and Offensive Player of the Year

Eagles RB Saquon Barkley named a finalist for MVP and Offensive Player of the Year

Saquon Barkley is one game away from the Super Bowl and a finalist for the NFL’s most significant individual award.

The Associated Press has named Barkley a finalist for the MVP and the league’s Offensive Player of the Year awards.

Barkley led the league with a franchise record of 2,005 rushing yards, making him the ninth player in NFL history to post 2,000+ rushing yards in a season.  Overall, Barkley logged the 8th-most rushing yards in league history, trailing only Eric Dickerson in 1984 (2,105), Adrian Peterson in 2012 (2,097), Jamal Lewis in 2003 (2,066), Barry Sanders in 1997 (2,053), Derrick Henry in 2020 (2,027), Terrell Davis in 1998 (2,008) and Chris Johnson in 2009 (2,006). Note: O.J. Simpson, in 1973 (2,003), was the other member of the 2,000+ yard club. Including playoffs, Barkley’s 2,329 rushing yards (119 in the NFC Wild Card Playoff vs. Green Bay) are the 3rd-most in NFL single-season history, behind Terrell Davis in 1998 (2,476) and 1997 (2,331). He is just 148 rushing yards shy of breaking Davis’ record.

Ravens’ right tackle Roger Rosengarten named to PFWA All-Rookie team

Ravens’ right tackle Roger Rosengarten named to PFWA All-Rookie team

Roger Rosengarten saw elite pass rushers from Day 1 when he joined the Ravens, but the former Washington Huskies offensive tackle improved, battled, and finished the year as one of the best players on a solid offensive line.

Rosengarten was the ninth tackle selected in last April’s NFL draft, and on Tuesday, he earned a spot on the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie team.

Rosengarten and No. 5-overall pick Joe Alt of the Los Angeles Chargers were the all-rookie offensive tackles.

After alternating snaps in the first three weeks, Rosengarten took over as the Ravens’ starting right tackle in Week 4 and never looked back, starting 16 games (including the playoffs).

Among offensive tackles who played at least 50% of the snaps, Rosengarten ranked No. 39 at his position, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). He was credited with four sacks allowed in 488 pass-blocking snaps.

Eagles have two players make the PFWA 2024 All-Rookie Team

Eagles cornerbacks Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell make the PFWA 2024 All-Rookie Team

The Eagles added cornerbacks with their first two draft picks in last April’s selection process and it was a significant reason for the dramatic turnaround on defense.

The Pro Football Writers of America revealed their 2024 All-Rookie team and Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell were the first team cornerbacks.

Mitchell ranked 3rd among NFL CBs with 16 forced incompletions, trailing only Zyon McCollum (17) and Denzel Ward (17). He was 3rd among CBs in yards allowed per coverage snap (0.8), behind Pat
Surtain (0.6) and Derek Stingley (0.7) (min. 600 coverage snaps).

Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels, who broke the NFL rookie quarterback single season rushing record in leading the Commanders to the playoffs for the first time since 2020, was named 2024 Rookie of the Year and the Offensive Rookie of the Year, chosen in voting conducted by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).

Rams linebacker Jared Verse, who led NFL rookies in quarterback hits, pressures and hurries, is the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Eagles have 2 players make the NFLPA ‘All-Pro team’ voted on only by players

Jalen Carter and Saquon Barkley will represent the Philadelphia Eagles on the NFLPA All Pro team

NFL players wanted more say in the postseason award process, and on Wednesday, the NFLPA unveiled the third annual Players All-Pro Team for the 2024 season.

Philadelphia had one of the NFL’s best records and was rewarded with two players making the list: Saquon Barkley and Jalen Carter.

NOTE: PLAYERS WHO MISSED 5 OR MORE GAMES AS OF WEEK 15 WERE INELIGIBLE.

Barkley was the team’s lone running back, while Carter joined Chiefs Chris Jones as an interior defensive lineman.

Roquan Smith and Fred Warner were the linebackers ahead of Zack Baun.

National reaction to Lamar Jackson running himself back into MVP race vs. Texans

National reaction to Lamar Jackson running himself back into MVP race vs. Texans

For weeks now, the talk around the NFL was that the AP MVP award was Josh Allen’s to lose, and on Sunday, that shift in sentiment may have started.

Lamar Jackson has been dynamic against the Texans, and after a 48-yard touchdown run, the Ravens quarterback had pundits and experts wondering if he wasn’t the real MVP.

Social media reacts to everything, and Jackson’s record-breaking performance was the talk of X.

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Eagles CB Quinyon Mitchell is the favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year

Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell is now the favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year over Rams Jared Verse

The Eagles hit the jackpot when they could draft Quinyon Mitchell at No. 22 overall in the 2024 NFL draft without moving up. A Week 1 starter, Mitchell has transformed Philadelphia’s top-ranked defense and played a significant role in shutting down some of the NFL’s top wide receivers.

On the heels of the Eagles winning ten straight games and defeating the Steelers 27-13 on Sunday, Mitchell is now the betting favorite to win the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

BetMGM says Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell has overtaken Rams pass rusher Jared Verse as the favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. It’s still an incredibly close race, but Verse’s grip on the award is slipping away slightly.

Mitchell is +105 ($100 bet wins $105) to take home the hardware, while Verse is +135. Chargers standout Tarheeb Still has the third-best odds at +900, followed by Chop Robinson at +1000. Everyone else is +3500 or longer to win.

  • Quinyon Mitchell: +105
  • Jared Verse: +135
  • Tarheeb Sill: +900
  • Chop Robinson: +1000
  • Laiatu Latu: +3500
  • Cooper DeJean: +3500
  • Calen Bullock: +4000
  • Payton Wilson: +6600
  • Kamari Lassiter: +6600
  • Braden Fiske: +6600

Philadelphia’s two rookies in the top six speak to Howie Roseman’s dedication to making a much-needed personnel change in the Eagles’ revamped secondary.

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WATCH: Cooper DeJean breaks down why Quinyon Mitchell is Defensive Rookie of the Year

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean breaks down why Quinyon Mitchell should be the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year

Quinyon Mitchell was the first cornerback selected in last April’s NFL draft, and he’s produced at a rate that could make the former Toledo star Howie Roseman’s most impressive draft pick.

Mitchell started in Week 1 and has performed like an All-Pro while shutting down some of the NFL’s top wide receivers. During a recent interview with Whistle’s ‘Air It Out’ with AJ Greene and Justin Pugh, DeJean explained why Mitchell is the Defensive Rookie of the Year.

With DeJean and Mitchell running on all cylinders, the Eagles have the No. 2 pass defense in the NFL. They haven’t allowed a 300-yard passer since Baker Mayfield’s Week 4 explosion in Tampa, only two 100-yard receivers since Week 1—Puka Nacua and Adam Thielen—and just 14 passing touchdowns.

In Sunday’s win over the Carolina Panthers, Mitchell allowed fewer than 30 yards in coverage for the ninth straight game.

Even more impressive, according to PFF, Mitchell is ranked first in the NFL in Receptions allowed: 31 (T-1st), yards allowed: 340 (1st), YAC allowed: 60 (1st), and touchdowns allowed: 0 (1st)

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