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Eagles' Saquon Barkley is a finalist for MVP; linebacker Zack Baun up for Defensive Player of the Year

Along with Barkley and Baun, the Eagles had Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean named finalists for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is up for Assistant Coach of the Year.

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is looking to be the first non-quarterback to win the MVP since 2012.
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is looking to be the first non-quarterback to win the MVP since 2012.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer

Saquon Barkley has spent the 2024 NFL season making running backs cool again. Can he become the first running back — and non-quarterback — to win the MVP since Adrian Peterson in 2012?

It’s unlikely, but Barkley is a finalist with four quarterbacks for the Associated Press’ award for NFL MVP. His fellow finalists are Buffalo’s Josh Allen, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow, Detroit’s Jared Goff, and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson.

Barkley, who is also a finalist for Offensive Player of the Year, led the NFL with 2,005 rushing yards during the regular season. He became the ninth player in NFL history to cross the 2,000-yard mark.

A quarterback has won the MVP award for 11 consecutive years and 16 of the last 17. Jackson is the reigning MVP.

While Barkley is up for the top league honor, it was a busy Thursday morning for the Eagles when the finalists for the AP awards were announced.

Linebacker Zack Baun, whose unlikely rise from depth edge rusher to one of the best off-ball linebackers in the league has already resulted in Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors, was named one of five finalists for the Defensive Player of the Year award. Cleveland edge rusher Myles Garrett; Cincinnati edge Trey Hendrickson; Denver corner Patrick Surtain II; and Pittsburgh edge rusher T.J. Watt are the other finalists.

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The top two Eagles draft picks from last year’s draft, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, make up two of the five finalists for Defensive Rookie of the Year. And defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is a finalist for Assistant Coach of the Year. Nick Sirianni was not named one of the finalists for Coach of the Year.

Finalists for the awards were determined through the AP’s voting system, which was revamped in 2022 and asks voters to rank their top five picks for MVP and the top three for other awards. The winners will be announced at the 14th annual NFL honors ceremony on Feb. 6.