NFL MVP betting odds updated ahead of training camp start

Patrick Mahomes already owns a collection of trophies. And oddsmakers are predicting the Chiefs quarterback will collect another one — NFL MVP.

Making Mahomes the favorite seems to be an obvious choice. The last time the Chiefs superstar was seen on a football field was at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. That’s when he was celebrating a Kansas City Super Bowl win and being the game’s MVP.

But MVP predictions in July, when NFL teams are readying for training camps, don’t necessarily translate in late January. So let’s take a look at the odds established by DraftKings to gauge all the candidates. One thing is clear, the money says the MVP will be a quarterback.

Kansas City Chiefs, QB, Patrick Mahomes (+475)

Mahomes already owns two NFL MVP awards. He won those in 2018 and 2022. Since the Chiefs are vying for a third straight Super Bowl, the quarterback tops the list of favorites.

But keep in mind that Mahomes admits that last season wasn’t as much fun as folks thought. The KC offense struggled at times, especially in the passing game. Will they correct it? “The end result [last season] was awesome, but I think a lot of us still have a weird feeling in our mouth,” Mahomes told reporters this week. “It wasn’t fun every single week having to try to just continue to get better and better and the results not paying off the way you wanted to. It wasn’t a lot of fun.”

Houston Texans, QB, C.J. Stroud (+850)

Just think, this time a year ago, Stroud was a rookie, the No. 2 pick of the NFL Draft. Folks didn’t know how well he’d transition from Ohio State to the Texans. Now, last season’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is a primary candidate for league MVP.

But it’s no weird leap. Stroud turned the Texans from moribund franchise to AFC South Division champs. He did so by playing clean football (just five interceptions) while throwing for 4,108 yards. And Houston helped him out for this season by trading for receiver Stefon Diggs and running back Joe Mixon.

Buffalo Bills, QB, Josh Allen (+900)

Allen, the Bills quarterback, always seems to be an NFL MVP candidate. But this season, it’s unclear whether he has a good enough surrounding offensive cast to help the Bills win big and Allen pad his stats.

Buffalo replaced Diggs by signing Curtis Samuel and Mack Hollins. They then selected Florida State receiver Keon Coleman early in the second round. The Bills and Allen certainly will be a story to follow.

Cincinnati Bengals, QB, Joe Burrow (+900)

Burrow will be a huge story, at least early in the season, as everyone watches to see if he’s fully recovered from wrist surgery, even whether his calf is OK. He strained his calf early in training camp last July, then aggravated the injury in week two. By week 10, he tore a ligament in his wrist, which knocked him out for the rest of the season.

But why not NFL MVP if he’s healthy. We’ll let Burrow explain. “I know I’m going to play well when I’m out there. I’m at that point in my career where I’ve seen enough to know myself that I can go out there and play as well as anybody in the game.”

Green Bay Packers, QB, Jordan Love (+1400)

Love is a hot name, after Stroud, for NFL MVP consideration. And why not? In his first season as a starter with the Packers, he and the youngest offense in the NFC rallied to make the playoffs, then beat the Cowboys in the wildcard round.

The Packers added some key offensive players. Green Bay signed running back Josh Jacobs, the NFL rushing leader in 2022, and selected former USC star MarShawn Lloyd in the third round of April’s draft. And an offense is nowhere without blockers. They signed offensive tackle Andre Dillard, a former first-round pick and selected Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan in the first round this year.

Baltimore Ravens, QB, Lamar Jackson (+1400)

Jackson is the reigning NFL MVP. So it’s odd to see him this far down on the contenders list. The Ravens signed running back Derrick Henry, an addition that can only make Jackson more formidable.

Plus, he’s in year two working with Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. In his first season, Jackson set career highs in completion percentage (67.2) and passing yards (3,678). We’ll know more in the season opener, when Jackson and the Ravens take on Mahomes and the Chiefs.

Philadelphia Eagles, QB, Jalen Hurts (+1500)

Hurts and his Eagles were huge disappointments last season, going from best record in the NFC at mid-season (10-1), only to lose six of their final seven. Philadelphia made some offensive additions in the off season with the hiring of Kellen Moore as the offensive coordinator, then signing running back Saquon Barkley.

Hurts still made the Pro Bowl. And he also set career highs for both passing (23) and rushing touchdowns (15). He’ll need to work on his turnovers.

New York Jets, QB, Aaron Rodgers (+1600)

Talk about hype. Everyone will be watching to see how well Rodgers plays this season. By now, everyone knows his story. He switched from the Packers to the Jets. Then on his fourth offensive snap of the regular season, Rodgers ruptured his Achilles.

Doctors cleared Rodgers to return to full practices during OTAs. However, Rodgers missed mandatory minicamp to take a trip to Egypt. Can he win NFL MVP during the season when he turns 41? There will be lots of opinions.

San Francisco 49ers, QB, Brock Purdy (+1600)

Purdy still has that incredible story. Last pick of the 2022 draft is the starter as a rookie, then takes his team to the Super Bowl in 2023. An overtime loss to the Chiefs left a bad taste, so how will he react?

The 49ers still have a strong cast around Purdy, with Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle. We should add Brandon Aiyuk, but he’s requested a trade. Then there’s left tackle Trent Williams, the best in the game. Purdy made his first Pro Bowl last season. Can he turn 2024 into an NFL MVP season?

Dallas Cowboys, QB, Dak Prescott (+1700)

There’s so much drama trailing Prescott. It’s mainly about whether the Cowboys will extend his contract or will this be his final season in Dallas. Prescott did finish second to Jackson last season for NFL MVP honors. But the Cowboys lost badly at home to the Packers to open the playoffs.

Plus, to make Prescott’s life more complicated, CeeDee Lamb, his top receiver, has held out through OTAs and minicamp for a better contract. And the Cowboys replaced departed running back Tony Pollard with Ezekiel Elliott. Prescott and Elliott are close friends. But there’s a reason why Dallas didn’t re-sign Elliott a year ago. He may have too much wear and tear on the legs to be a consistent runner anymore.

Wait! There are more candidates for NFL MVP

Detroit Lions, QB, Jared Goff (+2200)
Los Angeles Chargers, QB, Justin Herbert (+2200)
Miami Dolphins, QB, Tua Tagovailoa (+2500)
Indianapolis Colts, QB, Anthony Richardson (+3000)
Jacksonville Jaguars, QB, Trevor Lawrence (+3000)
Los Angeles Rams, QB, Matthew Stafford (+3000)
Atlanta Falcons, QB, Kirk Cousins (+3500)
San Francisco 49ers, RB, Christian McCaffrey (+4000)

Training camps are already starting around the NFL. They’ll be in full force by next week, with the first preseason game set for Aug. 1 between the Texans and Bears. If you’d like to take a look at DraftKing’s full list of NFL MVP candidates, click it here. And you can catch up on all the On3.com coverage of the league here.