Preseason football is underway and that means we’re getting closer and closer to the start of the regular season and the race for the NFL MVP. Like always, you’ll have to go way down the list to find a non-quarterback with the best odds to win the trophy. There are a lot of intriguing storylines that the top candidates are facing heading into 2022, including one quarterback trying to go for a three-peat for the MVP. With a handful of players vying for the trophy, this race is set up to be one of the best in NFL history.
Odds To Win 2022-23 NFL MVP
Josh Allen (+700)
Ever since being drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2018, Josh Allen has improved his game in every single way and has become a lethal duel threat quarterback. He’s vied for the NFL MVP each of the past two seasons, including finishing second in the voting in 2020 as he had 4,544 passing yards with 37 touchdowns to only 10 interceptions and also rushed for eight touchdowns.
Allen followed that up with 4,407 yards through the air with 36 touchdowns in 2021. He also had an outstanding season on the ground as he rushed for 763 yards and six touchdowns. Allen enters this season as the favorite to win the award and is projected by many to lead the Buffalo Bills to the Super Bowl.
Patrick Mahomes (+800)
Trying to win his second NFL MVP, Patrick Mahomes comes in at number two on this list despite losing one of the best receivers in the league in Tyreek Hill. This tells you how good Mahomes is as many view him as the best quarterback in the league. He won the MVP award in his first season as a starter (2018) when he threw for over 5000 yards and 50 touchdowns. Mahomes also finished third in the voting in 2020 and has made four consecutive Pro Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Mahomes comes into this season after throwing for just over 4800 yards and 37 touchdowns in 2021. He can also take off when he needs to as he’s had over 300 yards and two touchdowns in each of the last two seasons. As mentioned, Mahomes comes into the season without Hill but he’s flanked by the best tight end in the league and viable pieces around at the wide receiver position. With his big arm and his superstar talent at quarterback, Mahomes is set out to prove that he can do this without the speed of Hill.
Tom Brady (+900)
We all know about Tom Brady‘s success in New England, winning six Super Bowls with three NFL MVP awards. This along with his outstanding numbers catapulted him as the best quarterback in NFL history, in many’s eyes, but the success followed him down south. Even though it seemed impossible, Brady enhanced his resume in a big way by winning an additional Super Bowl in his first year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also finished second for the NFL MVP last year with 5316 and 43 touchdowns. Many even thought those numbers alone would’ve given him the award.
At age 45, Brady is still playing at a high level and decided to come out of a short retirement to try and avenge a tough NFC Divisional Game loss to the eventual champions. Even though he came back, his favorite weapon Rob Gronkowski didn’t do the same. Nevertheless, Brady has a lethal wide receiver core led by Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. They also got one of the best receivers in NFL history Julio Jones to come to Tampa. Brady isn’t done adding to his resume as he has a great shot at winning the NFL MVP and has hist team in a great position to win another Super Bowl.
Aaron Rodgers (+1000)
Despite winning back-to-back MVP awards, Aaron Rodgers places fourth in the betting odds. This is in large part because he lost the best wide receiver in the league after he was traded to Vegas in the offseason. Not many are high on Rodgers’ receiving core, calling it one of the worst if not the worst in the league. That’s on paper though. Rodgers is highly known to have made wide receivers throughout his career and I don’t think that’ll stop heading into this year. A lot of people are sleeping on this Green Bay Packers‘ offense and that’s when Rodgers will burn you.
In his consecutive NFL MVP seasons, Rodgers has thrown for over 4000 yards and with an impressive 48 touchdowns in 2020 and 38 in 2021. He’s also won 13 games in each of the last three seasons. As he has without Adams before, Rodgers is out to prove to everyone that he is still the best quarterback in the league without his number one receiver. He also has a chip on his shoulder after falling short in the playoffs two years in a row after having the number one seed. Rodgers will surely be in the MVP conversation from the beginning, trying the earn his third straight.
Justin Herbert (+1000)
There’s an argument to be made that Justin Herbert should be higher on this list. The young quarterback has lit the world on fire ever since joining the league. In his rookie season with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020, Herbert won the AP Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for over 4300 yards with 31 touchdowns. He got even better the following year as he earned his first Pro Bowl appearance by throwing for over 5000 yards with 38 touchdowns. Herbert also has rushed for eight touchdowns in his first two seasons.
Even with great quarterback play the last two years, the Chargers haven’t made the playoffs but they’re hoping that changes this season with Herbert heading into his third year. His supporting cast, and the fact that he’s become one of the elite passers in the game, is sure to have him towards the top of the MVP race at season’s end.
Next Best Odds
Joe Burrow (+1200)
Russell Wilson (+1400)
Matthew Stafford (+1600)
Dak Prescott (+1600)
Lamar Jackson (+2000)
Kyler Murray (+2000)
