2020 NFL season award picks: Analysts vote on MVP, Coach of the Year, more

(28 votes: Baldinger, Battista, Bergman, Bhanpuri, Blair, Brandt, Carr, Casserly, Chadiha, Filice, Frelund, Grant, Hall, Hanzus, Jones-Drew, Lewis, Mariucci, McGinest, O'Hara, Parr, Patra, Pioli, Ross, Sessler, Shook, Smith, Thomas, Zierlein)

2) Patrick Mahomes (4 votes: Burleson, Cersosimo, Rank, Rosenthal)

3) Derrick Henry (1 vote: Davis)

Why Judy Battista chose Aaron Rodgers: Rodgers' regular season -- remember, that is what is being honored here -- was simply out of this world. He led the league in completion percentage (70.7 percent), passing touchdowns (48), interception percentage (a microscopic 0.95 with just five interceptions in 526 pass attempts) and quarterback rating (121.5). His rating was the second-best EVER, behind only himself in 2011 (122.5). Even the mesmerizing Mahomes, who will win many more MVPs in his career, took a back seat to Rodgers this time.  

(19 votes: Baldinger, Battista, Bergman, Bhanpuri, Blair, Brandt, Cersosimo, Chadiha, Filice, Hall, Hanzus, Jones-Drew, Mariucci, McGinest, Patra, Ross, Shook, Thomas, Zierlein)

2) Aaron Rodgers (4 votes: Casserly, Davis, Rank, Smith)

T-3) Josh Allen (2 votes: Grant, Sessler)

T-3) Stefon Diggs (2 votes: Burleson, Frelund)

T-3) Alvin Kamara (2 votes: Carr, O'Hara)

T-3) Travis Kelce (2 votes: Lewis, Parr)

7) Patrick Mahomes (1 vote: Pioli)

Why Maurice Jones-Drew chose Derrick Henry: There wasn't much Henry didn't do this season. He led the league in every major rushing category, including carries (378), yards (2,027), touchdowns (17), forced missed tackles (75) and yards after contact (1,490). King Henry has dominated the rushing ranks for two consecutive seasons and was undoubtedly the best offensive player in the NFL in 2020, as evidenced by his league-high 2,141 scrimmage yards. If I'm being honest, Henry should be in the MVP mix after what he accomplished this season.

(15 votes: Bergman, Bhanpuri, Blair, Casserly, Chadiha, Filice, Frelund, Hall, Jones-Drew, Parr, Pioli, Rank, Rosenthal, Smith, Thomas)

2) T.J. Watt (14 votes: Battista, Brandt, Cersosimo, Davis, Grant, Hanzus, Mariucci, McGinest, O'Hara, Patra, Ross, Sessler, Shook, Zierlein)

3) Xavien Howard (4 votes: Baldinger, Burleson, Carr, Lewis)

Why Adam Rank chose Aaron Donald: If you're still trying to determine how freakin' good Donald was in the regular season, just take a look back at the Rams' defense in the NFC Divisional Round when Donald was barely there due to injury. I know a lot of people wanted to gush over Aaron Rodgers "dominating" the top defense in the league, but the top defense in the league isn't the top defense in the league when Donald isn't right. It was a lot like watching Hot Tub Time Machine 2. Sure, Adam Scott is great, but he's not John Cusack.

(21 votes: Battista, Bergman, Bhanpuri, Blair, Brandt, Burleson, Carr, Casserly, Chadiha, Filice, Hanzus, Lewis, Mariucci, O'Hara, Parr, Patra, Rosenthal, Ross, Sessler, Thomas, Zierlein)

2) Justin Jefferson (10 votes: Cersosimo, Davis, Frelund, Grant, Hall, Jones-Drew, McGinest, Pioli, Shook, Smith)

T-3) Jonathan Taylor (1 vote: Rank)

T-3) Tristan Wirfs (1 vote: Baldinger)

Why Jeffri Chadiha chose Justin Herbert: Herbert was thrown into emergency duty in Week 2 and wound up being everything the Chargers hoped he'd become over the course of his rookie year. The numbers -- 4,336 pass yards, 31 touchdowns and 10 interceptions -- indicate that he's already on a path to stardom.

(29 votes: Baldinger, Battista, Bergman, Bhanpuri, Blair, Brandt, Burleson, Carr, Casserly, Cersosimo, Chadiha, Davis, Filice, Frelund, Grant, Hall, Hanzus, Jones-Drew, Mariucci, McGinest, Parr, Patra, Rank, Rosenthal, Ross, Sessler, Shook, Thomas, Zierlein)

2) Jeremy Chinn (3 votes: O'Hara, Pioli, Smith)

3) L'Jarius Sneed (1 vote: Lewis)

Why Charley Casserly chose Chase Young: There was already a lot of hype surrounding the No. 2 overall pick coming into the season, and as Young got more experience, he become a player opposing offenses had to build their game plan around. He'll be a perennial Pro Bowler.

UNANIMOUS SELECTION

Why David Carr chose Alex Smith: It never really mattered what Smith did on the field this season -- though I will point out he was 5-1 as a starter. It was all about his journey back to the gridiron after a gruesome injury required 17 surgeries to save his leg. More than deserving of a unanimous vote, Smith's story is nothing short of miraculous and so inspiring that maybe this award should now be called the "Alex Smith Comeback Player of the Year Award."