49ers star Deebo reveals his vote for NFL MVP, OPOY awards originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Deebo Samuel’s picks are in.
The Star 49ers Wide Receiver revealed who he thinks should win NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year on the latest episode of his ‘Cleats & Convos’ show.
‘If it’s over now, I’m going [Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson]for sure,” Samuel told co-host Liv Moods. “And then, Offensive Player of the Year, I’m going [Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley]with my eyes closed.”
Samuel speaks to most of America with those selections.
Already a two-time MVP, Jackson is coming off perhaps his best season yet, currently leading the Ravens to an 11-5 record. The seven-year veteran has completed 300 of 442 passes (67.9 percent) for 3,955 yards and 39 touchdowns with four interceptions. He has also run the ball 130 times for 852 yards and four touchdowns, bringing his totals from scrimmage to 4,807 yards and 43 scores.
However, Samuel also really likes Barkley for MVP, but understands that the award usually goes to quarterbacks.
“I think the MVP is kind of like a quarterback award,” Samuel said. “I look at it a little bit like last year — [San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey] had one of the craziest seasons. He won [2023] Offensive Player of the Year, you know what I mean?”
Many, including Samuel, believed McCaffrey should have won the 2023 MVP award after amassing 2,023 all-purpose yards and 21 touchdowns en route to the 49ers’ Super Bowl LVIII appearance. A similar atmosphere exists for Barkley.
In his first season with Philadelphia, Barkley rushed for a sensational 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns, helping the Eagles to a current record of 13–3. He should be a lock for his first career Offensive Player of the Year.
Samuel and San Francisco may have missed the upcoming NFL playoffs, but the veteran wideout didn’t miss his pick for two of the league’s top honors with Jackson and Barkley.
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