A Look at the NFL MVP Finalists

This past week, the NFL announced the finalists for The Associated Press' 2023 NFL Awards, including the five finalists for the highly esteemed MVP. A nationwide panel of 50 media members voted before the NFL playoff games began, with the winner announced during the NFL Honors, which airs on February 8th on CBS.

Courtesy of Patrick Smith/Getty Images

MVP Finalists:

1). Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens).

Lamar Jackson is the favorite pick. How couldn't he be; the player that led the Ravens to the No. 1 spot in the AFC and took down several Super Bowl contenders. Jackson had career-high stats this season, with 3,678 passing yards and a 67.2 percent completion rate. After the Raven's frustrating 10-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game, Jackson said, "Oh, I'm not frustrated at all. I'm angry about losing, we were a game away from the Super Bowl, we've been waiting all this time, all these moments for an opportunity like this and we fell short. But I feel like our team will, we're going to build, this offseason we're going to get right, get better, grind, and try to be in this position again, but on the other side, a victory." However, even with the loss, Jackson remains the MVP favorite, with -10000 odds. 

2). Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills).

Josh Allen, the quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, is also in the running for MVP. He has never won the title but came third in voting in 2022 and second in 2020. Allen led the Bills to their fourth-straight AFC title in the 2023 season and possessed a pass completion rate of 66.5%. The quarterback boasted 44 touchdowns and 4,306 passing yards, the 4th-most among NFL quarterbacks this season. However, even with those stats, Allen had 18 interceptions, the 2nd-most in the NFL. Allen's odds to win MVP are +3000.

3). Christian McCaffrey (San Francisco 49ers).

If Christian McCaffrey, a running back for the 49ers, won the MVP title, he would join only eight non-quarterbacks to have won the MVP award since 1990. No non-quarterbacks have won since running back Adrian Peterson in 2012. McCaffrey played 16 games this season and scored 21 touchdowns. The running back had 272 carries and 1,459 rushing yards. In the 2023 season, McCaffrey had the highest overall PFF grade at 91.3. His 89.7 receiving grade is 6.7 points above the next-closest qualifying running back. He also won the Pro Football Writers Association's Offensive Player of the Year Award. McCaffrey's odds of winning MVP are +4000. If McCaffrey wins, he will make NFL history. 

Courtesy of the Carolina Panthers

4). Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys).

The Cowboy's quarterback, Dak Prescott, is also a finalist for the MVP award. In 2022, he was awarded the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award, but he has never won the MVP title. This season, he had 38 touchdowns and 4,516 passing yards, both of which are top in the NFL. His completion rate was 69.5%, and he only had nine interceptions. The quarterback had a 105.9 passer rating, which is his career best. Prescott led the Cowboys to an NFC East title for the 26th time in franchise history. The odds of Prescott winning MVP are +1800.

5). Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers).

Lastly, we have Brock Purdy. Purdy is the second 49ers player to be a finalist for the NFL MVP award. The quarterback led the 49ers to an NFC championship win this season, the franchise's eighth NFC championship win in history. Purdy boasts 33 overall touchdowns and 4,280 passing yards in 2023. He has a 69.4% completion rate and 11 interceptions and sports the NFL's best passing rate at 113.0. Purdy's odds of winning MVP are +2500.

Courtesy of Kelley L. Cox/USA Today Sports

While Jackson still has the highest odds of winning the MVP award, all finalists have accomplished so much this season. They have shown what true athleticism and talent are and that hard work and determination genuinely pay off. Even though only one of the players listed above can win, all five men continue to inspire and encourage people of all ages that you can do anything with hard work.

Edited By: Juliana Long

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