NFL early season MVP candidates
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
While we’re not even at the halfway point of this 2024-25 National Football League (NFL) season, a few players have already separated themselves from the rest of the league as candidates to win the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP). Whether it’s perennial MVP candidate Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, veteran Lions quarterback Jared Goff, superstar Bills quarterback Josh Allen, or Commanders rookie sensation quarterback Jayden Daniels, it will be a tough decision. We’ll break down the case each of these players has to win the award and then predict who will win the trophy.
Lamar Jackson: Jackson is making quite the case to repeat as the NFL’s MVP this season. The Ravens’ quarterback has thrown for 1,810 passing yards, 15 touchdown passes, and only two interceptions. Not only are his passing stats impressive, but he has also rushed for 455 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson’s stats have also correlated with team success, as the Ravens are 5-2, tied for first in the American Football Conference (AFC) North. Lamar’s hot start to the season has put him in a great position to capture his second consecutive MVP award.
Josh Allen: The Bills’ quarterback, continues to be the heart and soul of the team. Allen has thrown for 1,483 passing yards and 12 passing touchdowns, all while not having thrown a single interception the entire season. In past seasons, one of the main criticisms of Allen’s game has been his tendency to turn the ball over; in the past three seasons, Allen has combined to throw 47 interceptions, which is the most in the league during that period. Josh Allen seems to be turning this narrative on its head, though, and if he continues to be this efficient, he might just end up leapfrogging Lamar Jackson in the MVP race.
Jared Goff: Goff has been terrific for the Lions, who are arguably the NFL’s best team through seven weeks, as they stand at 5-2 and are in first place in the National Football Conference (NFC) North. He’s thrown for 10 touchdowns and four interceptions; in his last three games, Goff has combined seven touchdowns and zero interceptions. This includes a game against the Seahawks, in which he completed all 18 of his passes. His 18 passes without an incompletion were the most in NFL history. While Goff’s stats might not be as gaudy as his fellow candidates, his recent play and the Lion’s success have vaulted him toward the top of MVP contention.
Jayden Daniels: The rookie sensation has put the NFL world on notice with his performance this season. Daniels has 1,410 passing yards, six passing touchdowns, and only two interceptions. The second overall draft pick in the 2024 NFL draft has instantly turned a struggling Commanders franchise into a potential playoff team. Last season, the Commanders were a lowly 4-13 and now are atop the NFC East division at 5-2. Unfortunately, during a week seven game against the Carolina Panthers, Daniels suffered a rib injury that caused him to leave the game during the first quarter. Hopefully, Daniels' injury will not be too severe, and he will get back on the field to continue his truly remarkable rookie season.
All four of these players have had tremendous starts to the season, and each player has a chance to win the award. Even so, the NFL season is long and strenuous; one week can completely alter a player's season. As the season goes on, we will see who separates themselves from the rest of the pack. One of these four players might just be the eventual winner of the NFL MVP, but new candidates will likely emerge as the season progresses. Regardless of who won the award, it seems as though this MVP race will be one of the most competitive and captivating races in recent memory.