Predicting Every NFL Team's Preseason Award Winners

Every NFL team must play at least four games of preseason football before getting into the actual regular season.

In this article, we'll predict each NFL team's best offensive player, best defensive player and top rookie for the preseason.

The only catch? None of them can be starters.

Dallas Cowboys

Top Rookie: WR Danny Coale

Offensive MVP: QB Kyle Orton

Defensive MVP: LB Bruce Carter

The Cowboys need a slot receiver to step up and Danny Coale's emergence in the preseason will confirm his status as a starter on this team.

New York Giants

Top Rookie: CB Jayron Hosley

Offensive MVP: RB Da'Rel Scott

Defensive MVP: LB Mark Herzlich

The Giants have good depth on defense and should look for good play from their defensive backfield, especially corner Jayron Hosley.

Philadelphia Eagles

Top Rookie: DE Vinny Curry

Offensive MVP: QB Mike Kafka

Defensive MVP: FS OJ Atogwe

Andy Reid will make sure that quarterback Mike Kafka looks like a franchise signal caller in the preseason so that another team will surrender draft picks for him later.

Washington Redskins

Top Rookie: LG Josh LeRibeus

Offensive MVP: RB Evan Royster

Defensive MVP: DE Jarvis Jenkins

Washington is happy to have a number of good, young players ready to make an impact in 2012 and beyond. Evan Royster will make waves with great play, but will it translate against first stringers?

Chicago Bears

Top Rookie: WR Alshon Jeffery

Offensive MVP: RB Kahlil Bell

Defensive MVP: DT Matt Toeaina

Matt Toeaina, who's been in position battles before, needs to have a strong preseason to retain his spot as a starter in Chicago. He'll do just that.

Detroit Lions

Top Rookie: LB Travis Lewis

Offensive MVP: TE Tony Scheffler

Defensive MVP: CB Alphonso Smith

Behind the obvious players like Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham, Tony Scheffler is one of the best receiving tight ends in the game. He'll carve up second-string secondaries.

Green Bay Packers

Top Rookie: CB Casey Hayward

Offensive MVP: RB Alex Green

Defensive MVP: LB Erik Walden

A good preseason could help Alex Green get a lot more touches in a wide-open Green Bay offense. He'll dominate lowly competition and could open the season in a timeshare role with James Starks.

Minnesota Vikings

Top Rookie: WR Jarius Wright

Offensive MVP: WR Jarius Wright

Defensive MVP: LB Everson Griffen

Jarius Wright will be an impact rookie who should dominate the preseason after tearing apart SEC secondaries at Arkansas. Look for him to win a starting spot.

Atlanta Falcons

Top Rookie: FB Bradie Ewing

Offensive MVP: RB Jacquizz Rodgers

Defensive MVP: SS Chris Hope

When Matt Ryan, Roddy White and Julio Jones get finished with their first few reps, look for the Falcons to run the ball with Jacquizz Rodgers behind fullback Bradie Ewing. Both are talented and should show out.

Carolina Panthers

Top Rookie: FS D.J. Campbell

Offensive MVP: OL Bruce Campbell

Defensive MVP: DT Sione Fua

Bruce Campbell, an athletic specimen who is new to the Panthers, will love being a blocker in a scheme that so well utilizes his lateral quickness and agility.

New Orleans Saints

Top Rookie: RB Travaris Cadet

Offensive MVP: QB Chase Daniel

Defensive MVP: DE Martez Wilson

If the Hall of Fame Game was any indication, look for Chase Daniel and Travaris Cadet to tear up the preseason. Martez Wilson looked nice at his new position, too.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Top Rookie: OL Desmond Wynn

Offensive MVP: WR Tiquan Underwood

Defensive MVP: CB E.J. Biggers

E.J. Biggers is one of the more underrated cornerbacks in the league, but a big preseason will get him more recognition and playing time.

Arizona Cardinals

Top Rookie: OL Nate Potter

Offensive MVP: QB John Skelton

Defensive MVP: DB Justin Bethel

It's time for John Skelton to step up and win the starting quarterback job. After watching the Hall of Fame Game, it seems as though the players would run through a wall for Skelton and not for Kevin Kolb.

San Francisco 49ers

Top Rookie: RB LaMichael James

Offensive MVP: QB Colin Kaepernick

Defensive MVP: DE Cam Johnson

It will be interesting to see the spread-type packages that creative coach Jim Harbaugh runs with Colin Kaepernick and LaMichael James both in the game. They will do well in a wide-open offense.

Seattle Seahawks

Top Rookie: LB Bobby Wagner

Offensive MVP: RB Robert Turbin

Defensive MVP: CB Roy Lewis

Former Utah State players Bobby Wagner and Robert Turbin look to lead the charge into 2012 for Seattle with a strong preseason.

St. Louis Rams

Top Rookie: WR Brian Quick

Offensive MVP: QB Tom Brandstater

Defensive MVP: CB Trumaine Johnson

Tom Brandstater has the tools to be a very good quarterback in the league. If he puts it together in the 2012 preseason, watch Jeff Fisher's phone light up with interest in the signal caller.

Buffalo Bills

Top Rookie: WR T.J. Graham

Offensive MVP: OL Chris Hairston

Defensive MVP: DE Shawne Merriman

With the pressure off Shawne Merriman, expect this once-feared pass rusher to be a great player again. The defensive end will fit into a rotational package with Mark Anderson and Mario Williams.

Miami Dolphins

Top Rookie: QB Ryan Tannehill

Offensive MVP: RB Daniel Thomas

Defensive MVP: DE Jamaal Westerman

The combination of Ryan Tannehill and Daniel Thomas looks to be the future for the Dolphins. Both these players should have a good preseason playing off one another.

New England Patriots

Top Rookie: CB Alfonzo Dennard

Offensive MVP: OL Marcus Cannon

Defensive MVP: LB Bobby Carpenter

Bill Belichick was onto something when he drafted once-star cornerback Alfonzo Dennard in April. We'll see the defensive back in live action during the preseason.

New York Jets

Top Rookie: TE Hayden Smith

Offensive MVP: QB Tim Tebow

Defensive MVP: LB Aaron Maybin

All media hype aside, Tim Tebow is a very good football player who scores points inside the red zone and allows offensive coordinators a lot of flexibility. Look for him to shine in the preseason.

Baltimore Ravens

Top Rookie: RB Bernard Pierce

Offensive MVP: WR Tandon Doss

Defensive MVP: LB Dannell Ellerbe

The Ravens have a very talented wide receiver with Tandon Doss and he'll carve out a niche in the 2012 preseason. This pass catcher is as reliable as they come and he makes plays.

Cincinnati Bengals

Top Rookie: FS George Iloka

Offensive MVP: WR Mohamed Sanu

Defensive MVP: LB Vontaze Burfict

For those keeping score, all three of the players listed here are rookies. I love the play of George Iloka and Mohamed Sanu while I also have faith that Vontaze Burfict can regain his status as a top-notch linebacker. The Bengals have a solid, young core.

Cleveland Browns

Top Rookie: WR Josh Gordon

Offensive MVP: TE Jordan Cameron

Defensive MVP: CB Buster Skrine

Keep an eye on Jordan Cameron, a receiving tight end who used to play basketball at USC. He is a hybrid-type player who could dominate this preseason.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Top Rookie: LB Sean Spence

Offensive MVP: WR Emmanuel Sanders

Defensive MVP: DT Alameda Ta'amu

Emmanuel Sanders just needs an opportunity to break out and he will. After Antonio Brown put up 1,000 yards last year, the Steelers will try to develop Sanders in the same way.

Houston Texans

Top Rookie: QB Case Keenum

Offensive MVP: QB Case Keenum

Defensive MVP: SS Shiloh Keo

Maybe I'm crazy, but I like everything about Case Keenum's situation. He gets to play in Houston, where he went to college, and there's no pressure on this former collegiate star. This signal caller could well rip opposing defenses to shreds in the Texans' next four games.

Indianapolis Colts

Top Rookie: WR T.Y. Hilton

Offensive MVP: QB Drew Stanton

Defensive MVP: LB Moise Fokou

T.Y. Hilton was one of my favorite players in the 2012 draft class due to his playmaking ability and no-nonsense approach to the game. This wideout should be a very good player in the NFL and it starts this preseason.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Top Rookie: OL Mike Brewster

Offensive MVP: QB Chad Henne

Defensive MVP: CB Ashton Youboty

By the end of the preseason, this will be Chad Henne's team. Blaine Gabbert is just a bad quarterback and Henne will look to win the quarterback job.

Tennessee Titans

Top Rookie: DT Mike Martin

Offensive MVP: TE Jared Cook

Defensive MVP: LB Zac Diles

Jared Cook will be a very good player in 2012. Write that down somewhere. He'll shred apart defenses in the preseason and then steal the starting job from Craig Stevens.

Denver Broncos

Top Rookie: DT Derek Wolfe

Offensive MVP: WR Mark Dell

Defensive MVP: SS Mike Adams

Mark Dell could end up as one of Denver's best receivers if he plays well this preseason. He's a very talented pass catcher who does the little things right.

Kansas City Chiefs

Top Rookie: DE Allen Bailey

Offensive MVP: WR Dexter McCluster

Defensive MVP: CB DeQuan Menzie

DeQuan Menzie played against some outstanding competition in the SEC, so look for his first preseason to go well against third-string players.

Oakland Raiders

Top Rookie: WR Juron Criner

Offensive MVP: RB Taiwan Jones

Defensive MVP: DL Desmond Bryant

Desmond Bryant should be able to make waves this year as a rotational player in Oakland. Under a more sensible regime, the three listed players could turn out well.

San Diego Chargers

Top Rookie: DT Kendall Reyes

Offensive MVP: QB Jarrett Lee

Defensive MVP: CB Shareece Wright

Jarrett Lee is a very underrated quarterback who was able to lead his team to a national championship game berth in 2011. Lee should be able to have success against third-string preseason competition.