2023 NFL season – It’s time to look ahead to the next year now that the 2022 NFL season is over, and one prediction we’re particularly interested in is the 2023 league MVP award race, one of the most prestigious awards in all of American sports.
The etching on the most recent MVP trophy that Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes received before guiding his team to their second Super Bowl in four years may still be fresh. Yet it’s never too early to make predictions regarding the outcome of the race for the most valuable player in the next season.
Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts engaged in a heated contest for NFL MVP last season. Hurts, the quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, could have been able to win his first MVP Award if he hadn’t missed two games due to injuries. Instead, Mahomes won his second prize since 2018 and surpassed all other quarterbacks in passing yards and touchdowns.
Will Mahomes run it back next season and receive the award for the third time? Will his conference rival Josh Allen finally snag the coveted award? Or can Joe Burrow rise through the ranks and win his first MVP?
Let’s take a look at who major sportsbooks have as the early favourites for the 2023 NFL MVP award.
Josh Allen
Some may be surprised, but Bills quarterback Josh Allen began as the favourite to win the MVP award next season at most bookies. He concluded his 2022 season with 4,283 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, and a passer rating of 71.4.
In fact, Allen’s passing yards have surpassed 4,000 yards in each of the previous three seasons. He contributed to the Bills’ 13-3 record in 2022. If the Bills win 13 games or more next season, Allen at +650 may be a good pick.
Joe Burrow
Joe Burrow and the Bengals were one game away from earning their second consecutive Super Bowl appearance. Instead, they were defeated in the AFC championship game by the eventual Super Bowl champions. Nobody can blame Burrow for the outcome of that game.
Given that Burrow has already demonstrated his grit, the Bengals have a promising future under his leadership. He overcame his injuries, completed 22 of 33 passes against the Rams in the Super Bowl of 2021, and concluded 2022 with 4,475 passing yards, which was fifth-best in the NFL.
Patrick Mahomes
Does Mahomes have any limitations? It appears that the response is no at this time. Kansas City’s star player is a two-time Super Bowl MVP and a two-time regular season MVP. He has won two Super Bowls in the last four years. Yet even then, he has accomplished a great deal since taking over as the Chiefs’ starter at quarterback in 2017.
Patrick Mahomes has demonstrated that, more often than not, betting on him turns out to be a profitable investment, despite the fact that his MVP odds are third behind Allen and Burrow.
Justin Herbert
Herbert has only had three years of experience, yet in his first two seasons, he has surpassed 4,700 throwing yards. The young gunslinger might be unleashed in 2023 now that the Chargers have signed Kellen Moore as their offensive coordinator. It’s safe to say Herbert’s just getting started.
Jalen Hurts
Hurts was in charge of one of the most effective rushing offenses in football until he got injured. Hurts improved significantly as a passer while being on track to dash for close to 900 yards. This was evident just by observing his increased completion percentage (66.5%) and his aggressiveness moving downfield (8.0 Y/A). He could have been close to winning the MVP award, but two missed games due to injury ended his hopes. Maybe he can get it done in 2023.
Russell Wilson
Even though Wilson is a long shot at +4500, he could be worth a sprinkling. Despite having one of his least impressive seasons in his career, the Super Bowl XLVIII champion’s 2023 campaign may be a turning moment. Sean Payton, the Broncos’ new head coach, will take charge of the team. Wilson’s career may be revived, Denver’s offense reenergized, and Russ made relevant once more under Payton. Bettors might make a lot of money with +4500 if the Broncos turn things around and Wilson improves from where he was to anywhere close to first in the AFC.
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