{"id":18278,"date":"2026-02-07T06:04:50","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T06:04:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/drake-maye-mvp-stafford-all-pro\/"},"modified":"2026-02-07T06:04:50","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T06:04:50","slug":"drake-maye-mvp-stafford-all-pro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/drake-maye-mvp-stafford-all-pro\/","title":{"rendered":"Albert Breer\u2019s NFL Awards Ballot: Drake Maye for MVP, Matthew Stafford for First-Team All-Pro"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<h2>Lead<\/h2>\n<p>In San Francisco, two days before the Super Bowl, veteran reporter Albert Breer published his NFL Honors ballot and awards rankings covering the 2024 regular season through Jan. 4. His most notable choices: Drake Maye as MVP and Matthew Stafford as first-team All\u2011Pro quarterback. Breer released full first- and second-team All\u2011Pro lists plus 1\u20135 votes for major awards and shared context for several roster and coaching developments. The disclosure follows broader public scrutiny about ballot transparency after recent Hall of Fame voting revelations.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Breer named Matthew Stafford the first-team All\u2011Pro QB and placed Drake Maye at No. 1 on his MVP ballot; his MVP top five was Maye, Stafford, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert and Christian McCaffrey.<\/li>\n<li>First-team All\u2011Pro roster included 22 primary spots with notable selections such as Christian McCaffrey (RB), Bijan Robinson (All\u2011Purpose) and Trent Williams (LT).<\/li>\n<li>Second\u2011team All\u2011Pro featured Drake Maye as QB2 and James Cook as the RB2, with Kyle Pitts earning his first All\u2011Pro nod (second team).<\/li>\n<li>Breer submitted full 1\u20135 ballots for Coach (Liam Coen top), Defensive Player (Myles Garrett top), Offensive Player (McCaffrey top) and rookie awards (Carson Schwesinger top for defensive rookie, Tetairoa McMillan top for offensive rookie).<\/li>\n<li>Injury and personnel notes included Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori\u2019s Thursday non\u2011practice after a Wednesday low\u2011ankle sprain; Breer reported the team expected him to play Sunday.<\/li>\n<li>Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz resigned, triggering a search with internal interviews and external interest reported, while other coaching-staff moves and candidate names circulated around the league.<\/li>\n<li>Breer confirmed his ballot reflects only regular\u2011season performance through Jan. 4 and explained his transparency approach after recent public debate over voting disclosure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>Public scrutiny over secret ballots intensified after reporting showed Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft did not gain Hall of Fame entry and attention turned to who withheld votes. That controversy pushed discussion about whether voters should disclose ballots so the public can better understand selections. Breer says he believes in transparency and opted to publish his All\u2011Pro ballot and awards votes, consistent with his practice of seeking disclosure from subjects he covers.<\/p>\n<p>The timing\u2014two days before the Super Bowl in San Francisco\u2014meant Breer framed his ballot as a regular\u2011season evaluation. He explicitly excluded any play after Jan. 4 from consideration, a common convention in award voting that separates postseason performance from regular\u2011season honors. Publishing ballots like this aims to let readers see the tradeoffs voters make when they balance individual achievement against team impact.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>Breer\u2019s first\u2011team All\u2011Pro list named Matthew Stafford as the lone first\u2011team quarterback; the backfield and skill positions had recognizable names including Christian McCaffrey, Bijan Robinson (All\u2011Purpose), Jaxon Smith\u2011Njigba, Ja\u2019Marr Chase and Puka Nacua among receivers. Linemen and front\u2011seven spots included veterans such as Trent Williams and playmakers like Myles Garrett, Will Anderson Jr. and Micah Parsons across edge and interior lines.<\/p>\n<p>The second\u2011team ballot placed Drake Maye at QB2 and highlighted emerging contributors such as James Cook (RB2) and Jahmyr Gibbs (All\u2011Purpose). Kyle Pitts earned a second\u2011team nod at tight end, a notable career milestone. Breer also released special teams and positional backups, giving a comprehensive view of his assessments across roles.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond team lists, Breer published his ranked votes for major awards: Maye over Stafford for MVP, Liam Coen as his Coach of the Year, Garrett as his Defensive Player of the Year, and McCaffrey leading offensive honors. He explained his rationale: Stafford represented the highest individual QB performance, while Maye\u2019s candidacy was rooted in the degree he elevated an offense that was rebuilt around him.<\/p>\n<p>Breer tied these selections to context: Maye took a team that won four games the previous season into contention with multiple new offensive starters, while Stafford produced elite individual metrics and late\u2011season form that, in Breer\u2019s view, merited first\u2011team All\u2011Pro recognition.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>Publishing ballots contributes to accountability in award voting and invites deeper scrutiny of voters\u2019 criteria. Breer\u2019s dual judgment\u2014Stafford as the best individual QB performance and Maye as the most valuable player to his team\u2014illustrates a recurring tension in MVP debates between peak play and transformational impact. Publicizing ballots helps demystify how voters weigh those factors.<\/p>\n<p>For players, where they land on All\u2011Pro lists and award ballots can influence reputation, contract negotiations and legacy narratives. A first\u2011team All\u2011Pro tag for Stafford reinforces his elite status in contemporaneous player evaluations; Maye\u2019s MVP top slot boosts his national profile and sets a different trajectory for short\u2011term expectations and market valuation.<\/p>\n<p>Coaching\u2011staff movement tied to Jim Schwartz\u2019s resignation demonstrates how coordinator departures ripple across hiring markets. Teams pursuing experienced coordinators may reshuffle assistants or delay decisions, and candidates who remain with strong groups (like the Texans\u2019 staff) may prefer continuity over short\u2011term promotions. That dynamic affects competitive balance and off\u2011season planning leaguewide.<\/p>\n<p>Health updates\u2014Nick Emmanwori\u2019s ankle sprain, Drake Maye\u2019s right shoulder and Sam Darnold\u2019s oblique\u2014underscore how marginal availability can shift game plans. Breer noted Seattle\u2019s reliance on Emmanwori\u2019s hybrid skill set; even a minor absence could change matchups and playcalling, particularly against teams that exploit personnel packages.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Ballot \/ Spot<\/th>\n<th>Breer\u2019s Top Selections<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>MVP (1\u20135)<\/td>\n<td>Drake Maye; Matthew Stafford; Josh Allen; Justin Herbert; Christian McCaffrey<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>First\u2011Team All\u2011Pro QB<\/td>\n<td>Matthew Stafford<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Second\u2011Team All\u2011Pro QB<\/td>\n<td>Drake Maye<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Coach of the Year (top)<\/td>\n<td>Liam Coen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>This compact table highlights Breer\u2019s clearest headline choices and how he separated individual peak performance from team value. The list illustrates his dual approach: honoring Stafford\u2019s elite play while awarding Maye for the team\u2011level lift he provided.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Yes, I did vote Stafford first\u2011team All\u2011Pro and Maye as MVP.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Albert Breer<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Breer made this admission to clarify that his MVP pick reflected team elevation while his All\u2011Pro QB pick emphasized individual execution. He framed both selections as defensible and consistent with differing award philosophies.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;ll play Sunday.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Albert Breer (reporting on Nick Emmanwori)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Breer reported that Emmanwori, despite an ankle sprain and a missed Thursday practice, was expected to be active for the upcoming game\u2014an update that directly affects Seattle\u2019s defensive flexibility.<\/p>\n<h2>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: Awards, All\u2011Pro vs MVP and the hybrid safety role<\/summary>\n<p>All\u2011Pro designations are singular season honors typically selected by panels to recognize the best player at each position for the regular season only; they differ from Pro Bowl selections, which can reflect popularity and fan voting. MVP voting often balances statistical dominance with perceived team impact; voters vary in whether they prioritize peak metrics or transformative influence. A hybrid or \u2018supersized\u2019 safety\u2014like the role Nick Emmanwori plays\u2014combines run support, slot coverage and linebacker responsibilities, allowing teams to match personnel without substituting heavier personnel packages.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<\/h2>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Interest from the Raiders and other teams in Jim Schwartz has been reported but formal offers and outcomes remain unconfirmed. The Browns hold contractual rights that could affect final move timing.<\/li>\n<li>Speculation that Vic Fangio might retire after 2026 and create a destination for Schwartz is unverified and should be treated as conjecture until official statements appear.<\/li>\n<li>Reports suggesting definitive long\u2011term recovery timelines for Nick Emmanwori are premature; Breer noted he was expected to play but long\u2011term effects from the sprain were not detailed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>Breer\u2019s published ballot reinforces two recurring themes in award discourse: voters often separate highest individual performance from most consequential team impact, and transparency around ballots clarifies those tradeoffs. His choice\u2014Stafford as first\u2011team All\u2011Pro for elite personal play and Maye as MVP for the broader team uplift\u2014encapsulates that split.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond awards, the itemized updates on injuries and coaching departures are immediate items to watch: Emmanwori\u2019s availability could materially alter Seattle\u2019s defensive matchups, while the coordinator market spurred by Schwartz\u2019s resignation will reshape staff compositions across multiple teams. Readers should expect further confirmations and official releases as the league moves through the postseason and off\u2011season.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/super-bowl\/albert-breer-nfl-awards-ballot-drake-maye-mvp-matthew-stafford-first-team-all-pro\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sports Illustrated \u2014 original report and ballot publication (media)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lead In San Francisco, two days before the Super Bowl, veteran reporter Albert Breer published his NFL Honors ballot and awards rankings covering the 2024 regular season through Jan. 4. His most notable choices: Drake Maye as MVP and Matthew Stafford as first-team All\u2011Pro quarterback. Breer released full first- and second-team All\u2011Pro lists plus 1\u20135 &#8230; <a title=\"Albert Breer\u2019s NFL Awards Ballot: Drake Maye for MVP, Matthew Stafford for First-Team All-Pro\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/drake-maye-mvp-stafford-all-pro\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Albert Breer\u2019s NFL Awards Ballot: Drake Maye for MVP, Matthew Stafford for First-Team All-Pro\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18272,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Breer\u2019s NFL Ballot: Maye MVP, Stafford All\u2011Pro \u2014 DeepSports","rank_math_description":"Albert Breer publishes his NFL Honors ballot: Drake Maye tops his MVP list while Matthew Stafford earns first\u2011team All\u2011Pro. Full ballots, injury and coaching updates summarized.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Drake Maye,Matthew Stafford,All\u2011Pro,MVP,NFL awards","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18278","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18278","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18278"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18278\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18272"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18278"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18278"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18278"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}