NFL MVP: Way Too Early Predictions

NFL MVP: WAY TOO EARLY PREDICTIONS – Patrick Mahomes ran away with the MVP award last season after Jalen Hurts suffered an injury.

He deserved it after leading his team to a Super Bowl victory the season after losing Tyreek Hill. It was his second MVP award in his six-year career, but this season he does not have the weapons of years past.

There is a chance for someone else to win this award in the upcoming season, but who will it be? A quarterback has won MVP for 10 consecutive seasons and will likely go to a quarterback again, so let us look at the best options.

Joe Burrow +750 on DraftKings

The Bengals added Orlando Brown Jr. at left tackle to protect Joe Burrow’s blindside. He spent the last two seasons in Kansas City with Mahomes, but now he will suit up for the Bengals as they set their eyes on a Super Bowl victory.

Burrow suffered 41 sacks last season, the sixth-most in the league. The offense should benefit immensely from this addition, as it gives the receiver group more time to get separation from defenders.

Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd are returning this season to build on what they have accomplished in the past few seasons.

They have been the top three receivers on the Bengals since Chase’s rookie season in 2021, and Higgins and Chase have topped 1,000 receiving yards in the past two seasons.

In those two seasons, Burrow averaged 4,543 passing yards, 34.5 TDs, and 13 interceptions while contributing seven rushing TDs. The Bengals have developed their roster to win now, and that could also mean Burrow takes the next step and win MVP.

Jalen Hurts +1200 on FanDuel

Jalen Hurts was the betting favorite to take home the MVP award before getting injured late last season. Then he missed two games, and Patrick Mahomes continued to be excellent. Hurts and Josh Allen were the only others to receive first-place votes, each receiving one vote.

The Eagles may have come up short in the Super Bowl, but Hurts played a tremendous game and proved he is an elite competitor.

The reason his odds are this high is his style of play. He ran for 784 yards in 2021 and 760 yards in 2022, which is elite for a quarterback, but also increases the likelihood of an injury. His play on the field is good enough to win MVP, but will he be on the field enough to get it done?

It is worth the risk, especially at this price.

Trevor Lawrence +1600 on FanDuel

The betting market for this award focuses on a handful of quarterbacks. Trevor Lawrence should be considered in that handful of guys this season. He threw for 4,113 yards, 25 TDs, and eight interceptions last season and was the fifth quarterback in MVP voting last season. He beat Justin Herbert, who is now listed as low as +900 to win MVP at some sportsbooks.

The Jaguars got Calvin Ridley last season despite him having to serve a season-long suspension for gambling. He is now ready to suit up and remind the league what he has to offer. In his last complete season in Atlanta, playing with Matt Ryan, he had 90 receptions for 1,374 yards and nine TDs.

He will join Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, and Evan Engram as the primary pass catchers, with Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby in the backfield. This offense could leap forward this season and put Lawrence into the MVP conversation.