Each year, I go division by division and nominate who I believe is each team’s candidate for the major NFL awards and then we discuss/declare who the division’s major award winner is for the season…and that player goes onto the divisional Final Four with a chance to go to the Super Bowl/Finals for a chance to be declared my seasonal award winner.
We go division-by-division each day, then to the Final Four for each conference, then the finals to name our winner the day the NFL announces their winners. *And my choices are usually different up and down the line in each category, so enjoy a different take on the NFL awards.
We also have FFM’s Ross Jacobs’ nominees by team, by division, by conference and his eventual winner to share along with my nominees and winners.
Two notes on the voting:
*MVP (any position, but usually offense)
**Coach of the Year (any coach on the staff, not just the head coach)
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NFC South: 2024 Season Awards Tournament: MVP
TB: QB Baker Mayfield, TB
ATL: RB Bijan Robinson, ATL
CAR: RB Chuba Hubbard, CAR
NO: TE Taysom Hill, NO
Taysom Hill was on his way to an epic season, but injury got him again. Missed too many games to be the MVP, but was THEIR best weapon...when they lost him, it was really over.
Great seasons from Bijan and Chuba, but no one is gonna touch Baker Mayfield in this vote in the division. Baker...the guy football analysts KNEW was terrible/done 3 seasons ago...
NFC South Winner = QB Baker Mayfield, TB...moves onto the Final Four.
*Ross Jacobs votes:
TB – Baker Mayfield
ATL – Jessie Bates
CAR – Chuba Hubbard
NO – Alontae Taylor
NFC South – Baker Mayfield
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NFC South: 2024 Season Awards Tournament: Rookie of the Year
TB: RB Bucky Irving, TB
ATL: QB Micheal Penix, ATL
CAR: WR Jalen Coker, CAR
NO: OT Taliese Fuaga, NO
I love Coker and Fuaga, but they didn’t have big enough seasons to win this.
Penix would have won it, had he played from the jump...but he didn’t. So, it’s an easy win for the great season RB (against my scouting and wishes) -- Bucky Irving.
NFC South Winner = RB Bucky Irving, TB...who now goes on to the NFC Final Four.
*Ross Jacobs votes:
TB – Bucky Irving
ATL – Michael Penix
CAR – Jalen Coker
NO – Taliese Fuaga
NFC South – Bucky Irving
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NFC South: 2024 Season Awards Tournament: Defensive Player of the Year
TB: LB Lavonte David, TB
ATL: SAF Jessie Bates, ATL
CAR: CB Jaycee Horn, CAR
NO: DT Bryan Breese, NO
Four names that are mostly known, but not the usual suspects for DPOY mentions. They all have a case, in some way...but I’m going with Lavonte David with some storyline bias -- 34+ years old and played all 17 games and had one of his best seasons of his 13-year career. I’m not against any of the other guys, but I’ll tip the cap to David.
NFC South Winner = LB Lavonte David, TB goes on to the NFC Final Four
*Ross Jacobs votes:
TB – Lavonte David
ATL – Jessie Bates
CAR – Mike Jackson
NO – Alontae Taylor
NFC South – Jessie Bates
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NFC South: 2024 Season Awards Tournament: Coach of the Year
TB: O-C Liam Coen, TB
ATL: O-C Zac Robinson, ATL
CAR: HC Dave Canales, CAR
NO: iHC Darren Rizzi, NO
We can immediately cancel out Robinson and Rizzi...they aren’t close to getting past the top two contenders. Liam Coen did a nice job with the Bucs offense, but this was already a good offense he inherited...but he did a good job with it.
However, no one can touch the near-miraculous job Dave Canales did with Carolina this season. Getting wins and getting something out of Bryce, dealing with a ton of injuries...easy pick.
NFC South Winner = HC Dave Canales, CAR
*Ross Jacobs votes:
TB – Liam Coen
ATL – Zac Robinson
CAR – Dave Canales
NO – Marcus Robertson
NFC South – Liam Coen
