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NFL awards: Wide open Rookie of the Year races so far in 2019

By A.J. Fagerlin

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 29: Quarterback Gardner Minshew #15 of the Jacksonville Jaguars walks off the field during halftime against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on September 29, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 29: Quarterback Gardner Minshew #15 of the Jacksonville Jaguars walks off the field during halftime against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on September 29, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MICHIGAN – SEPTEMBER 29: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs calls a play in a huddle against the Detroit Lions during the second quarter in the game at Ford Field on September 29, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – SEPTEMBER 29: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs calls a play in a huddle against the Detroit Lions during the second quarter in the game at Ford Field on September 29, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

A quarter of the way through the NFL season, we hand out the NFL awards as if the season ended today, focusing on the wide open battles for Rookie of the Year.

NFL MVP

Patrick Mahomes II, Quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs

You’d be hard-pressed to pick anyone but the reigning MVP to repeat at this point (four games) in the season. The Chiefs are undefeated right now, with Mahomes leading them to infinity and beyond. Can they break through and win it all this year? That remains to be seen. But last year’s MVP is somehow even better this season.

After throwing for over 5,000 and 50 touchdowns a season ago, Mahomes is incredibly on pace for over 6,000 passing yards and 40 touchdowns this year. He has yet to throw an interception and has a completion percentage of 67.9.

If you heard the sound byte of Mahomes hyping up his offense before the Chiefs game-winning drive on Sunday against the Lions, you realize just how great Mahomes is as a player, as well as a leader. He has taken Kansas City to a whole new level, doing so this season without his starting running back from last season and his number one wide receiver (Tyreek Hill, who is now back practicing).

Three-time MVP Tom Brady is in this conversation with the Patriots tied with Kansas City atop the AFC at 4-0. But the Patriots have been riding their defense this season and Mahomes has just been so much more impressive.

Other players such as Christian McCaffrey, Dalvin Cook, and Lamar Jackson have all had great starts to their seasons, and have been incredibly valuable to their teams success. But no one comes close to Mahomes.

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