Overview of Maye Day Maye Day? — MVP and Every NFL Award
Host Mina Kimes (ESPN / Omaha Productions) talks with JB Long (Rams play-by-play; college football analyst) about the biggest award debates from the 2025 NFL regular season. They break down voting philosophy, analytics vs. eye test, and the razor‑close fights for MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and the rookie/assistant categories. Mina discloses how she voted and explains the metrics and narratives that decided her ballot.
Key takeaways
- MVP was a two‑man race: Matthew Stafford vs. Drake Maye. Mina voted for Drake Maye, citing elite advanced metrics and value in a tougher division/schedule. JB pushes back for Stafford based on PFF grades, WAR, TD production, avoiding sacks, and being the driving force of the league’s most efficient scoring offense.
- Offensive Player of the Year was a tight receiver fight: Puka Nacua vs. Jaxon Smith‑Njigba (JSN). Mina ultimately voted Puka for his combination of receiving production, rushing/first‑down contributions, blocking, and game‑changing catches.
- Defensive Player of the Year was straightforward: Myles Garrett was the runaway winner (broke the single‑season sack record and impacted games regardless of script).
- Coach of the Year: Mina favored Mike McDonald (Seahawks defense turnaround and one‑seed), but acknowledged strong cases for Kyle Shanahan and Mike Vrabel.
- Rookie awards: Mina voted Offensive ROY for Tedarrel “Ted” McMillan (Panthers TE) and Defensive ROY for Nick Emanwari (Nikki Emanwari / Emoni Worry — Seahawks DB/linebacker hybrid). (Transcript uses Emoni/Emanwari spelling variations.)
- Mina prefers balancing analytics (EPA, CPOE, DVOA, PFF) with contextual judgment: strength of schedule, surrounding cast, and “value” (how crucial a player was to his team’s success).
MVP — Drake Maye vs. Matthew Stafford
- Finalists discussed: Drake Maye and Matthew Stafford (also mentioned: Josh Allen, Christian McCaffrey, Trevor Lawrence; Mina had McCaffrey and Justin Herbert on her broader list).
- Mina’s vote: Drake Maye.
- Key statistical supports for Maye: led in EPA per dropback, success rate, QBR, completion %, and had the best single‑season Completion Percentage Over Expected (CPOE) since NGS created that metric (2016). Also highly effective on the ground under pressure.
- Value argument: Maye exceeded expectations on a more adverse path (NFC West difficulty) and his metrics showed seasonal dominance.
- JB’s counterpoints for Stafford:
- Stafford ranked top in PFF grades and Wins Above Replacement, had higher touchdown totals and fewer sacks, and operated in a historically efficient offense (Rams led the league in scoring).
- Stafford’s ability to make jaw‑dropping throws and elevate receivers (including depth/precision on low‑probability throws) is a major narrative factor.
- Common ground and voter caveats:
- Both agreed QB bias is real; strength of schedule and surrounding personnel matter.
- Regular season only: playoff performance should not affect MVP.
- Mina stressed value: which QB produced more relative to his roster and challenges? That edged her to Maye.
Offensive Player of the Year — Puka Nacua vs. Jaxon Smith‑Njigba (and others)
- Finalists Mina considered: Puka Nacua, JSN, Bijan Robinson, Christian McCaffrey, Drake Maye.
- Mina’s vote: Puka Nacua.
- Rationale: Puka combined elite receiving efficiency (yards per route run, contested catches, YAC), volume (target share/first downs), and unique contribution as a blocker and runner (jet sweep/extra rushing yards). Mina valued first‑downs, game‑changing “jaw‑dropping” catches, and blocking contributions to the Rams’ historic run game efficiency.
- JSN case: led in receiving yards and was a target monster with extremely low drop rate and big‑play output — very close race.
- Mina’s position on QBs winning OPOY: generally opposes giving a QB both MVP and OPOY (she sees OPOY as usually a non‑QB award unless a QB clearly stands apart and MVP goes elsewhere).
Defensive Player of the Year — Myles Garrett (unanimous candidate)
- Mina: Garrett should be unanimous DPOY.
- Garrett broke the sack record, had 30 tackles for loss, and produced pressure and impact in high‑leverage situations (many sacks came while trailing or not in obvious passing downs).
- Other notable defenders discussed: Will Anderson Jr. (phenomenal pressure rate, first in pressures and interceptions created among edge rushers), Micah Parsons, and Bonito Hutchinson; Mina had Anderson as a close second.
Coach of the Year — Mike McDonald edges Kyle Shanahan / Mike Vrabel
- Finalists: Mike McDonald (Seahawks), Mike Vrabel (Patriots), Kyle Shanahan (49ers), Liam Coen (Jaguars), Ben Johnson (Bears).
- Mina’s vote: Mike McDonald.
- Case: turned the Seahawks defense from bottom‑tier into the league’s top defense in two seasons, made bold roster and scheme choices, and helped Seattle secure the one seed. Mina credited both roster construction (draft/free‑agent finds) and schematic changes.
- Shanahan’s case: extraordinary job given season‑long injuries and adversity; nearly won the NFC West with a depleted roster — Mina said if San Francisco had closed out Week 18 she’d have strongly considered Shanahan.
- Mina rejects the idea that Coach of the Year should be purely a “turnaround award”; she weighs context and overall achievement across the full season.
Assistant Coach / Coordinator of the Year
- NFL finalists: Vic Fangio, Joe Flores (Brian Flores?), Vance Joseph, Josh McDaniels, Clint Kubiak.
- Mina’s ballot pick: Chris Shula (Rams defensive coordinator) — she argued he maximized a young, thin defensive roster and held up statistically for most of the regular season.
- JB favored Brian Flores (Vikings) for doing a lot with limited secondary talent and producing a top‑3 DVOA defense despite offensive struggles.
- Mina also praised Clint Kubiak (Seahawks) for postseason gameplans, but stressed the award is about regular‑season impact.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
- Finalists discussed: two QBs (Darton? Drafted rookies), Emeka Ibuka (WR), Tedarrel/Ted O’McMillan (TE), Trevion Henderson (RB).
- Mina’s vote: Tedarrel McMillan (Panthers TE).
- Rationale: led rookies in receiving yards and TDs among rookies, dominated in first downs and situational usage (third/fourth down), and was a consistent chain mover for Carolina across a full season.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
- Finalists discussed: Abdul Carter, Nikhonwari/Eman Worry (Seahawks), Carson Schwestinger (Browns LB), James Pierce Jr. (Falcons), Xavier Watts (Falcons S).
- Mina’s vote: Nik(e) / Emoni Worry (Seahawks).
- Rationale: Versatility and immediate impact in coverage, run defense, and as a blitzer — a true force multiplier in Seattle’s defensive scheme. Mina argued he was central to the Seahawks’ defensive identity and success.
- Carson Schwestinger case: high tackle totals, pressures, and instant starter for Cleveland; Mina acknowledged the strong counting stats and importance.
Key metrics and voting philosophy Mina & JB used
- Analytics referenced:
- EPA per dropback, success rate, QBR
- Completion Percentage Over Expected (CPOE) — Maye’s season stood out historically
- DVOA (Football Outsiders) and strength of schedule adjustments
- PFF grades and Wins Above Replacement (WAR)
- Pressure rates, sacks, tackles for loss, yards per route run, YAC, contested catch rate, first downs
- Mina’s process:
- Start with “who was the most outstanding” (dominance) but then layer in value (impact relative to roster, schedule difficulty, how necessary the player was to team success).
- She balances advanced metrics with tape‑based observations (jaw‑dropping plays, situational value) and roster/context factors.
- Recurrent tensions:
- How much to weigh team success (wins, seeding) vs. individual statistical/analytical dominance.
- Strength of schedule metrics don’t always agree (EPA vs. DVOA); voters must reconcile conflicting data with film study and judgment.
Notable moments & anecdotes
- Stafford’s Week 16 performance vs. Seahawks (nuclear outing) and his streak of 28 consecutive TD passes (broke Tom Brady’s mark) were recurring narrative points.
- Puka Nacua’s stretch of games (including multiple 165+ yd outings) and his combination of blocking + deep threat play was a standout talking point.
- Myles Garrett’s 26 half‑sack plays and pressure consistency under adverse game scripts emphasized his season’s genuineness.
- Mina repeatedly emphasizes that awards are regular‑season honors; playoff outcomes shouldn’t retroactively affect votes.
Mina Kimes’ disclosed ballot (summary)
- MVP: Drake Maye
- Offensive Player of the Year: Puka Nacua
- Defensive Player of the Year: Myles Garrett
- Coach of the Year: Mike McDonald (Seahawks)
- Assistant Coach of the Year: Chris Shula (Rams DC)
- Offensive Rookie of the Year: Tedarrel (Ted) McMillan (Panthers TE)
- Defensive Rookie of the Year: Nik / Emoni Worry (Seahawks)
Final note
The episode is a mix of analytics and film‑study debate with strong attention to narrative and context. Mina emphasizes that several races were razor‑close and defensible either way (especially MVP and OPOY). The conversation underscores how award voting blends objective metrics, situational value, and subjective judgment — and how different trusted metrics can point in different directions.