Can you believe we're already four games into the NFL season? Bill Barnwell, ESPN's senior NFL writer, has released his annual quarter-season awards, handing out picks for the best performances from Weeks 1 through 4. He stresses that these are his own choices based on data and film, not predictions for the final year-end winners, and that he applies some different rules than the end-of-season electorate.
One broader principle guides his picks: availability matters. Players who miss time aren't helping their teams, and over a four-game sample, missing even one half of football can seriously dent a player's résumé. Baltimore receiver Zay Flowers is cited as the most prominent case, where missed time is holding back an otherwise impressive start.
Barnwell covers eight awards, from Defensive Rookie of the Year to MVP, including Coach of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, Protector of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year. He notes that 24 rookies have played at least 50% of their teams' defensive snaps through four weeks, up from 22 in 2025. Titans linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and Bears safety Dillon Thieneman have played every snap, a rare feat for a rookie.
No defensive rookie has separated from the pack yet, though Chiefs cornerback Mansoor Delane stands out on a per-snap basis, including an interception of Bo Nix before a shoulder injury sidelined him for most of the first two weeks. Barnwell plans to revisit these awards after Week 9 to see who held their standing and who fell off.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing