Every year provides a new opportunity for heroes to emerge in the NFL. However, the Most Valuable Player Award is an honor that regularly goes to one of four players. Nobody can ever discount Patrick Mahomes, because he has already won two MVP awards in addition to the Chiefs’ three Super Bowl titles the team has won with the star quarterback under center.
Joe Burrow of the Bengals has been to the Pro Bowl twice and is the only AFC quarterback to earn a playoff victory over Mahomes and the Chiefs. Burrow is viewed as a legitimate MVP candidate whenever he is healthy – something that he is not this season.
Josh Allen is a three-time Pro Bowler and he won the MVP last season. Allen has spectacular athletic ability and has shown he can carry the Bills on his shoulders.
Lamar Jackson has three MVP Awards to his credit but he is playing catch-up this season as injuries kept him from playing three games and the Ravens got off to a slow start.
All four appear to have a chance at winning the MVP most years, but this season is quite different. Allen has a great chance to come away with the honor, but the others appear to be out of the race.
With only one of the Big 4 in contention, here are the primary candidates for the 2025 MVP Award.
1. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Stafford has been sensational this season, both in the short term and the long term. During a three-game stretch from Weeks 7 through 10 – the Rams had a bye in Week 8 – Stafford threw 13 touchdown passes with no interceptions. He became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw that many scoring passes over a three-game stretch without throwing an interception.
He did not throw any interceptions in the Week 11 21-19 victory over the Seahawks, and he has a remarkable 27-2 TD-interception ratio for the season with 2,557 passing yards. The Rams are on a roll with an 8-2 record and appear to be the top challenger in the NFC to the Philadelphia Eagles.
2. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Maye was an inconsistent quarterback during his rookie season a year ago, and there were questions about whether he would develop into a solid NFL quarterback. He has erased all the doubts this year as the Patriots appear to be returning to glory with a 9-2 record as they sit in first place in the AFC East.
Maye has flourished under first-year head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. The Patriots have won eight consecutive games heading into their Week 12 matchup with the Bengals. He leads the NFL in completion percentage (71.9%) and passing yards (2,836) and is second in passer rating (113.2) behind Jackson (115.5).
The Patriots and their fans have been waiting for a season like this since the team parted company with Tom Brady following the 2019 season. Maye appears to be the real deal and is a legitimate MVP candidate.
3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Allen is one of the most explosive players in the league and he moves to the head of the class in big-play ability when Jackson is not at his best. That’s the case this year, and Allen has completed 204 of 293 passes for 2,456 yards with 18 touchdowns and 7 interceptions heading into their Week 12 road game against the Houston Texans.
However, it is his running ability that sets him apart. Allen has rushed for 351 yards and 10 touchdowns. While other quarterbacks seem to be at risk for major injuries when they run with the ball, Allen has avoided that fate.
4. RB Jonathan Taylor Indianapolis Colts
Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles was the dominant running back in the league last season. Jonathan Taylor has taken that crown away from him this year and it’s a runaway. He has carried the ball 189 times for 1,139 yards and has gotten into the end zone 15 time for the first-place Indianapolis Colts (8-2).
Taylor has demonstrated explosive characteristics to his game with 28 runs of 10 yards or longer. He has delivered first downs on 31 percent of his rushing attempts. He has clearly made life easier for quarterback Daniel Jones and head coach Shane Steichen.
5. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Hurts is always down the list when it comes to winning the MVP, but he may be the biggest reason the Eagles are the defending Super Bowl champions and have an 8-2 record as they lead the NFC East. Hurts is not spectacular, but he has completed 180 of 269 passes for 1,995 yards and a 16-1 TD-interception ratio. That last figure allows him to be in the MVP race.
He also has 265 rushing yards and 6 rushing touchdowns, and his mastery of the tush push gives the Eagles an opportunity to succeed in every short-yardage opportunity.
The belief here is that the Eagles would not be close to the team they are without Hurts and he deserves consideration for high honors.
