Three most likely OPoY candidates for the 2023 NFL season?
Last year, Justin Jefferson won the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award. Who else should be candidates for the OPoY for the 2023 season? Depending on who you ask, it does kind of stink that the MVP and OPoY award are usually awarded to the same person, or, at least, to some extent, people view the award as being similar to each other.
They are obviously two separate awards. The MVP has largely become the best QB award, and I’m afraid that will eventually spill into the OPoY award. Can the 2022 winner, Justin Jefferson, win it again in 2023?
Three most likely OPoY candidates for the 2023 NFL season?
Justin Jefferson
Justin Jefferson is probably going to end up in the Hall of Fame one day. He’s played in the NFL for just three seasons and already has 4,825 yards and 25 receiving touchdowns. He peaked in his early NFL career in 2022 wit 128 receptions for 1,809 yards, both leading the league.
He was awarded with the Offensive Player of the Year award, and rightfully so. He’s set to enter his age-24 season in 2023 and is likely going to sign a massive contract extension sometime this offseason.
Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes has won this award before. He won it back in 2018 and finished second in voting in 2020 and 2022. He also has won two MVP awards and two Super Bowl rings. It’s safe to say that Mahomes is the best of the best.
He and the entire Chiefs’ offense proved that they could be effective without Tyreek Hill in the lineup. They had no issue scoring points and Mahomes’ 41 touchdown passes were the second highest mark of his career.
He’s entering his age-28 season and has a ton of great football left.
Tyreek Hill
Tyreek Hill was traded to the Miami Dolphins before the 2022 season and enjoyed his best season catching passes. He caught 119 passes for 1,710 yards and seven touchdowns. It was a bit shocking to see Hill be this productive, and I think a second year in Miami, a second year in Mike McDaniel’s offense and a second year catching passes from Tua Tagovailoa is going to help Hill contend for the OPoY award.
He’s entering his age-29 season, so slowly but surely, age could be a concern for some. Hill did say earlier this offseason that he’d be retiring after his current contract finishes up.