The rookie class performed like a master class. After combining for five touchdowns, tight end Sam LaPorta and running back Jahmyr Gibbs made coach Dan Campbell take a jab at some draft experts who had criticized their draft class back in April. On defense, Brian Branch produced a few huge plays, while linebacker Jack Campbell is improving.
After that impressive performance, I started to wonder if any of the Lions’ rookies or other players had any possibility of winning any playoff honors at the 2024 NFL Honors?
It turns out that there’s a potential for a few Lions players to receive some hardware at the end of the season, albeit a slim one for others. Here are those odds, provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, for your review:
Most Valuable Player
- Brock Purdy (-190)
- Dak Prescott (+450)
- Lamar Jackson (+500)
- Jalen Hurts (+1000)
- Christian McCaffrey (+1200)
- Josh Allen (+1600)
- Patrick Mahomes (+2200)
- Tyreek Hill (+2500)
- Tua Tagovailoa (+2500)
- Jared Goff (+10000)
Jared Goff’s MVP odds were +3500 in November, so he was in the early debate, but since his midseason difficulties, that conversation has completely vanished. He’s still getting exaggerated odds because the Lions are among the best teams in the NFL right now, but it’s also important to remember that Goff is ranked third in passing yards, third in touchdowns, sixth in passer rating, and tenth in PFF grade. He needs to present his argument.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
- CJ Stroud (-10000)
- Jahmyr Gibbs (+2000)
- Puka Nacua (+2000)
- Bijan Robinson (+3500)
- Jordan Addison (+5000)
- Sam LaPorta (+7500)
The fact that the Lions have two offensive skill position players in the top six should be greatly praised, even though it seems like Stroud has already won this honor. Right now, Jahmyr Gibbs, Nacua, and Robinson are the only three rookie players with 1,000 yards from scrimmage. Three players in the whole NFL have more receiving touchdowns than LaPorta (71) and receiving yards (758), with LaPorta ranking fourth among ALL tight ends in both categories.
Though Stroud is presently in the concussion protocol, it’s highly improbable that either player hurts his chances, as the Houston Texans are closing in on an unlikely postseason berth behind the rookie quarterback.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
- Jalen Carter (-1600)
- Devon Witherspoon (+1200)
- Will Anderson (+1500)
- Ivan Pace (+5000)
- Brian Branch (+7500)
- Jack Campbell (+10000)
- Deonte Banks (+10000)
- Tyrique Stevenson (+10000)
- Lukas Van Ness (+10000)
- Keion White (+10000)
- Joey Porter Jr. (+10000)
Once more, Jalen Carter, a guy the Lions had a chance to select in the 2023 NFL Draft, is still a relative long shot behind the other two Lions hopefuls. Feel free to debate that draft choice if you so like. But keep in mind that both Gibbs and LaPorta would have suffered as a result of his drafting.
Moving on, following impressive rookie seasons thus far, Branch and Campbell both made it into the top six. Branch opened the season with a pick-six, and even though he hasn’t played as well as he could have, he is still one of the better Lions defenders on the field. Branch is presently ranked seventh in PFF grade (71.7) among all rookie defenders with at least 400 snaps, and fifth among rookies with eight passes defended.
Although Campbell’s rookie season has been up and down, he is unquestionably beginning to improve. As the team’s starting MIKE linebacker, Campbell has been given more opportunities and has improved his PFF from 53.8 to 69.3 in the last four games.
Coach of the Year
- Dan Campbell (+200)
- Shane Steichen (+350)
- Demeco Ryans (+350)
- Mike McDaniel (+600)
- Kyle Shanahan (+600)
- John Harbaugh (+1200)
- Zac Taylor (+1500)
- Kevin Stefanski (+1500)
- Sean Payton (+3000)
- Sean McVay (+3000)
Campbell has been the front-runner for Coach of the Year the whole season. Nonetheless, you can make a strong case for a number of people in this profession because it is rather narrow. It goes without saying that Campbell deserves a great deal of credit for his three-year journey—from a bottom-dweller to a serious, maybe long-term contender—as well as for this year. Now, the Lions are within a whisker of earning their first divisional championship in thirty years. That is deserving of great praise.
Of course, coaches from the best-perceived team always get consideration, hence 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan, Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel, and Ravens’ John Harbaugh all have reasonable odds to win the award.
