Since the start of the training camp in 2010, The athletics The fifth annual survey polls general managers, senior executives, head coaches, coordinators and other coaches about the upcoming season.
We had 20 voters on the poll this year, and all spoke on condition of anonymity to openly discuss competing players and teams. A few voters skipped certain questions, so there are fewer than 20 categories.
We have a lot of ground to cover so let’s get to it:
Allen (2022) and Mahomes (2023, 2024) have now won this vote twice, though neither took the actual MVP in the same year. Barrow received this vote’s top honor last year.
It’s hard to argue with Allen, the 2024 MVP who is set to make his 30-year-old debut.
“It’s stressful,” said one head coach. “The plays he makes, the things he does, you can’t imagine. He’s the biggest dude on the field, and the ball is like a little peanut in his hands. Some of the things he does in crunch time, you’re like, ‘Where did that come from? How do you do those things?’ I don’t know if there’s a single better football player in the NFL in terms of putting a team on his back.
Stafford, the reigning MVP, did not receive any votes in this category last year. However, picking him back is a strong endorsement, something that hasn’t been around since Aaron Rodgers won in 2020-21.
Allen was the obvious choice after the MVP vote, and Mahomes was an easy choice for most of the panel despite his ACL recovery. Still, it’s worth noting that there was at least some hesitation as the league looked to perform after a quick comeback.
Stafford’s results were impressive.
“The combination of him and[Rams head coach Sean]McVay is lethal,” one executive said.
In previous variations of this question in this poll, Stafford has only been mentioned once. Of course, it was great in 2025, and it looks like the Rams are still coming out. Opinions are allowed to change as evidence and circumstances change.
Plus, Mahomes is coming back from a torn ACL, and Burrow and Jackson have dealt with multiple injuries in recent years.
“It’s crazy how much it changes,” says one general manager.
The QB draft classes have been a rollercoaster of late, but there are still a few potential franchise cornerstones among them. Other eligible options include Bryce Young, CJ Strode, Cam Ward, Jackson Dart, Tyler Shaw and Fernando Mendoza.
Maye and Williams have each shown their true potential as their franchises have received coaching upgrades. May finished second in MVP voting and led the Patriots to a stunning Super Bowl, while Williams led the league with six fourth-quarter comebacks and the Bears’ first playoff victory since the 2010 season.
As evidenced by the audio, Maye is in his prime, but Williams fans believe another leap is on the horizon.
“It’s going to be Caleb after this year,” one head coach said.
Daniels became the forgotten man in the equation after his sophomore season was shortened to seven starts due to mounting injuries. Remember, he was viewed as an MVP candidate a year ago.
“Daniel still has a very real talent,” said a head coach.
Garrett was only traded to the Rams for a package that exceeded the value of two first-rounders, so he was a position. But still, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year did not run away from this category.
Anderson, the No. 3 pick in 2023, is one of the league’s rising young stars. His 23 sacks over the past two seasons rank sixth in the NFL, and are the most by anyone under the age of 25 over that span.
“Two first-round picks for him,” an assistant coach said, “Oh yeah, you can do that.
It was interesting to hear Murphy, Robinson and Simmons mentioned because they don’t play premium positions in terms of asset management. But it speaks to their influence.
“Jeffrey Simmons is a top 10 player in the NFL,” said one executive.
Not everyone liked this question.
“If I need to?” A head coach responded. “I’m not going to give up two first-round picks.”
The term “defensive closer” has picked up steam of late as teams scour the planet for alphas who can end the defensive game. As high-level balls can put a lot of pressure on their opponents, a special defender is needed to answer the challenge.
Garrett, arguably the best defensive player in the post-Aaron Donald era, has retired the legend. And how important was that? The two are on the fence about what Donald voters voted for weeks before his official return, still seeing the retired Donald as one of the best defenders in the game. That is an honor.
Garrett’s 125.5 career sacks ranks 20th all-time and third among players. Although the Browns didn’t win much in Garrett’s nine seasons, he had 34.5 sacks in the fourth quarter. That could be more of a threat against a Rams team that is sure to lead a few games in the fourth quarter this season.
“Miles hasn’t had a lot of time in this situation, but I think he will,” one head coach said. “I don’t see how it can’t be seen in those times.”
Andersen also controlled the sound.
“At best, he’s a psycho,” an assistant coach said. “He rips your face off.”
“I have a lot of respect for what they’re doing in Houston,” another head coach said. “I think (Anderson) is a problem.”
Bonito has 27.5 sacks over the past two seasons, second only to Garrett (37).
“When I was watching Denver in a close game, he was like, ‘Oh, another strip sack,'” said one GM.
Watt may not be at his absolute best anymore, but everyone knows who is trying to make plays in clutch situations.
“When they’re rolling, they always make an explosive play, and TJ Watt is the guy who always does it,” the third coach said. “It’s amazing.”
Aaron Donald has come out of retirement to rejoin the ‘all in’ Rams
Nate Atkins
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 pick, will open the season behind Kirk Cousins, and it’s unclear when he will start. Everyone on the panel acknowledged that, so the election results were not indicative of his potential.
Still, voters struggled to settle on Love. The Cardinals are going to struggle, and Love might serve up a little Ashton Jeanty déjà vu.
“It’s tough because I don’t know if (the Cardinals) are going to be very good,” the assistant coach said of the No. 3 pick. But he’s going to get the ball a ton.
This was not the most celebrated abstract class in memory, so beauty was in the eye of the beholder in these reactions. Love won because he was widely viewed as the premier offensive skill player in the draft.
One big takeaway from this question: People love Johnson. The No. 27 overall pick received just one vote in what could be a tough slide for Dolphins cornerbacks this season, but Johnson drew strong feedback from a panel of coaches and executives.
“We loved Chris Johnson,” said the head coach, who hoped his team would pick him.
McDonald quickly and truly earned the respect of his peers as one of the best head coaches in the league. Sure, he’s only been on the job for two years and already has a Super Bowl, but it’s also clear that the Seahawks are building something that will last.
In that, MacDonald’s peers envy the way he pulls Levers to the point where he ends up tied with McVay in the fourth quarter. Lock in a pair of must-see games every season between those two NFC West foes for the foreseeable future.
This was not limited to head coaches, though McDaniels and Spagnuolo were the only coordinators to receive votes. And if this were a team vote, the Patriots’ duo of Vrabel and McDaniel would have come in at No. 1 with a total of 4.5 votes.
“Vrabel knows how to manage all those situations,” one coach said.
Spagnolo will go down as one of the greatest defensive coordinators of all time.
“Spags is a big game coach,” said one head coach. “In Kansas City over the years, teams have been trying to beat the Pats and the Chiefs, trying to come back in the fourth quarter. And I think the Spags are always up to the challenge.”
We will get rid of Johnson in the 2027 vote.
Johnson ignited Caleb Williams in their first year together and confirmed his emergence as the Lions’ offensive coordinator. The Bears are ranked ninth — in the top half of the league for the first time since 2018 — as Johnson has put talented pieces in place.
The sound was almost deathly heat. Especially with Reid and McDaniel up top over Cone and Kubiak, it had a more veteran flavor. Payton still cast a vote this season despite handing over play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Davis Webb.
Not only did McDonald get away with it, he was the only head coach to get a vote. (Of course, Flores, Fangio and Spagnuolo were the head coaches.)
McDonald’s system He turned heads as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator in 2023, leading to his jump to the Seahawks. His peers noticed the move to Seattle in his first season, but he really exploded in 2025. The Seahawks can change their look as much as anyone and have allowed the fewest points in the league.
McDonald has a wonderful way of teaching complex concepts in integrated ways. He’s efficient with his message and workload, and the players feel empowered.
MacDonald is considered the best defensive mind in the league, and he’s really starting.
