Another exciting season of NFL football has come and gone, and another Chiefs Super Bowl victory is the result. While not every team can hoist the Lombardi, every team does have at least one player who shined in 2023. Who deserves the most flowers? Let’s award:
Arizona Cardinals – Budda Baker (S)
Baker made his 6th Pro-Bowl team this season. For the lowly Cardinals, he is an absolute bright spot.
Atlanta Falcons – Jesse Bates III (S)
Bates has proven himself as one of the top safeties in the NFL, dominating in the secondary. He led the Falcons in both tackles and interceptions, and was the anchor of a pretty decent defence. If they bring in a playmaker on the defensive line, and just get their offence together, next season could be scary.
Baltimore Ravens – Lamar Jackson (QB)
Yes, he fell short when the lights were bright – and this was not the first time either. That being said, Lamar is the engine that makes this team go. Take him away, and they have no offence whatsoever.
Buffalo Bills – Josh Allen (QB)
You win by Josh, you lose by Josh. He is the quintessential modern quarterback. Just like Jackson, Allen’s only fault is that he has never won the final game of the year.
Carolina Panthers – Brian Burns (OLB)
The Panthers stink. Even still, Brian Burns is an excellent player, and had another great season.
Chicago Bears – Montez Sweat (DE)
Sweat became the first player to lead two different teams in sacks in one season. He recorded 6.5 sacks for the Commanders, then another 6 after being traded to Chicago at the deadline. The trade does not look good for Washington.
Cincinnati Bengals – Joe Burrow (QB)
Burrow is one of two guys on this list to play 10 games or fewer this season. While his backup, Jake Browning, played decent quarterback in replacement, Burrow’s value became increasingly evident down the stretch. Some may disagree, but Burrow is a top three quarterback in the NFL.
Cleveland Browns – Myles Garrett (DE)
Garrett was awarded his first Defensive Player of the Year in 2023, and deservedly so. He will get his hands on the quarterback if he is not double or triple teamed. The value he brings to the Browns is unparalleled.
Dallas Cowboys – Micah Parsons (OLB)
When you think about a “defensive quarterback”, you think of a guy like Micah Parsons. He is the face of the Cowboys, one of the most popular players in the league, and the most necessary ingredient for a potential Cowboys championship run.
Denver Broncos – Pat Surtain (CB)
Pat Surtain is a lockdown corner. His counting stats were down this season, but this has a lot to do with quarterbacks intentionally not throwing the ball anywhere near him.
Detroit Lions – Penei Sewell (OT)
Sewelll was the highest graded offensive-lineman in all of football this season, according to Pro Football Focus. He is elite in both the run and pass game, and is a big reason for why Jared Goff, Jamhyr Gibbs and David Montgomery all looked like superstars this season.
Green Bay Packers – Jordan Love (QB)
Jaire Alexander is far and away the most impactful player on the Packers, but he simply missed too many games this season. Jordan Love looked better every game this season, and left many people debating whether he is a top-ten quarterback.
Houston Texans – CJ Stroud (QB)
CJ Stroud had the most electric rookie season in recent NFL history. He is one of several very good players on the Texans. The future is brighter than the sun in H-Town.
Indianapolis Colts – Quenton Nelson (G)
Nelson and the Colts offensive line made Gardner Minshew a Pro-Bowler. Enough said.
Jacksonville Jaguars – Josh Allen (OLB)
Another Josh Allen! What are the odds? This Josh Allen had a career-high 17.5 sacks in 2023. Whether he is on the Jaguars or another team in 2024, Allen has earned himself a bag.
Kansas City Chiefs – Patrick Mahomes (QB)
Duh, but if Chris Jones was on almost any other team in football, he would be that team’s MVP.
Las Vegas Raiders – Maxx Crosby (DE)
Crosby is a stud, and had another great year for the up and down Raiders. His faith in new Head Coach, Antonio Pierce, leaves hope for the team in 2024.
Los Angeles Chargers – Keenan Allen (WR)
The chargers defence was one of the worst in the NFL all season, so while Khalil Mack and Derwin James are great players, they do not deserve this award. As for quarterback Justin Herbert, he missed too much action to be in contention, and he didn’t look all that special when he played either. Kennan Allen is an elite pass-catcher, and showed that, even at 31 years old, he is still the same player he has been for several years.
Los Angeles Rams – Aaron Donald (DT)
Another veteran who shows his value game-in and game-out; Donald is the only household name on the Rams defence, and was the centrepiece of their playoff calibre run-defence. In a hypothetical trade, despite his age, Donald’s services would warrant at least a first-round pick in return.
Miami Dolphins – Tyreek Hill (WR)
Hill had one of the most impressive wide receiver seasons ever, and his name was in MVP conversations until the bitter end. Tyreek makes Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa look like a lefty Dan Marino.
Minnesota Vikings – Justin Jefferson (WR)
Jefferson only played in ten games for the injury-riddled Vikings this season. Jefferson has the best hands in the NFL, and it is not that close.
New England Patriots – Jabril Peppers (S)
This is a hard one, since nobody on the Patriots stood out as being particularly good in 2023. Peppers is talented, and is one of the leaders of this team. It will be interesting to see how the defence adjusts without Bill Belichick, and with new head coach Jerod Mayo.
New Orleans Saints – Demario Davis (LB)
Davis (35) was a beast this season, racking up 121 tackles and 6.5 sacks. Such a workload at his age is astounding, and he does not look to be slowing down.
New York Giants – Saquon Barkley (RB)
Did Saquon Barkley have his best year of his career? No, but he is still the face of the Giants, and their most dangerous weapon on any given Sunday. That being said, they have to add pieces wherever they can if they want to contend for the NFC East next year.
New York Jets – Sauce Gardner (CB)
Gardner just may be the best coverage guy in the NFL. He is extremely hard to beat downfield, and quarterbacks are scared to throw to him.
Philadelphia Eagles – Jalen Hurts (QB)
The Eagles left a bad taste in the mouth of NFL watchers, the way that their season unraveled down the stretch. Hurts is still the most valuable player to this team, and can be the reason they win a Super Bowl *at some point*.
Pittsburgh Steelers – TJ Watt (DE)
Watt had a down year for his standards, and was still a DPOY finalist.
San Francisco 49ers – Christian McCaffrey (RB)
McCaffrey accounted for 80 rushing yards and 80 receiving yards against the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, leading the 49ers in both stats. In next year’s NFL 100 Best Players rankings, expect McCaffrey to be ranked second, only shy of Mahomes.
Seattle Seahawks – Bobby Wagner (LB)
Wagner (33), like Demario Davis, is a veteran middle line backer carrying a huge load defensively for his team. Wagner led the entire NFL in total tackles with 183. Next year, corners Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon should be in contention for the Seahawks’ MVP – for now, it is Wagner.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Mike Evans (WR)
Evans is consistently overlooked as one of the top receivers in football, but he deserves so much respect. Whether it is Jameis Winston, Tom Brady, or Baker Mayfield throwing him the ball, he will be the favourite target, and he will make ridiculous plays.
Tennessee Titans – Derrick Henry (RB)
Despite the uncertainty of his future as a Titan looming, Henry led the entire league in rushing attempts, and was second to McCaffrey in total yards. Talk about value.
Washington Commanders – Jonathan Allen (DT)
You have to feel for Jonathan Allen. Playing for the Commanders, his recognition (albeit infrequent) is at the bottom of lists like these. He went off earlier this season on his career of frustrations in Washington. He’s seen it all, and still is a major contributor. Hats off to him.
Who was snubbed from this arbitrary team MVP list? Let us know @Area51SportsNet on twitter!
