2025 NFL MVP Race: Who Will Win the Prestigious Award?
The Most Valuable Player Award is the most prestigious award in the NFL. With Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, and Joe Montana winning multiple MVPs, many players grow up dreaming of winning the award. The past three seasons have seen the frontrunners of Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Patrick Mahomes vie for the award. Since the season isn’t almost halfway through, we’ll be taking a look at the top-three players in the MVP race as well as their odds to win the award. All betting odds being utilized are derived from FanDuel Sportsbook.
Patrick Mahomes (+175)
The two-time MVP has a great chance to win the award for a third time. Only five players in NFL history have won at least three MVPs: Jim Brown, Johnny Unitas, Brett Favre, and the aforementioned Rodgers and Manning. With 2,050 total yards, 18 total touchdowns, and only two turnovers all season, he’s proving to many why he’s been considered the best quarterback in the league this decade. While the MVP factors in statistics, it also tends to be a storyline award. Last year, Allen won it after losing his All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs and leading the Bills to the second-best record in the AFC. In 2022, Mahomes won the MVP after leading the league in passing yards and touchdowns following Tyreek Hill's trade to the Miami Dolphins. This year, Mahomes overcame adversity again by playing the first six games of the season without Rashee Rice, the Chiefs' number one wide receiver. After a commanding win against the Raiders by a score of 31-0, the Chiefs are looking towards claiming their 10th consecutive AFC West division title. If that happens, and especially if the Chiefs claim another number one seed, expect Mahomes to earn his third MVP.
Josh Allen (+350)
It’s no secret that Allen and the Bills haven’t looked great recently. Over the last two games, the six-foot-five, 237-pound QB has thrown for 216.5 yards per game with only four touchdowns and four turnovers to even it out with back-to-back losses to go into the bye week. However, this might look like a bit of déjà vu from last year. Buffalo was 3-2 after losing to Diggs on his new team, the Texans. Soon thereafter, the Bills figured themselves out and went 9-1 in their next 10 games, sitting their starters after the first quarter in the final game to finish 13-4. Knowing this, the oddsmakers in Las Vegas still have faith in Allen to turn things around and finish with another top-three finish in the AFC. If the Bills defeat the Chiefs in the regular season and earn the bye week, then it’s highly likely that Allen would jump Mahomes in odds for MVP, since the top team in their respective conference is typically given favorability for the award. If that happens, then that would be the first playoff bye week that the Bills have achieved since 1993, the last season that the team made an appearance in the Super Bowl.
Baker Mayfield (+450)
The newcomer to this trio is Baker Mayfield, who’s rejuvenated his career since signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023. He’s leading the Bucs to the best record in the NFC despite a lot of adversity facing the team. First off, this is the 2018 first-overall pick’s third different offensive coordinator in as many seasons. Dave Canales called the offensive plays in 2023, Liam Coen earned a head coaching job in Jacksonville after helping the offense finish fourth in the league for points scored last year, and Josh Grizzard got promoted to OC this year after serving as pass game coordinator last season. Despite the constant changes, Mayfield’s play hasn’t faltered, passing for 256.5 yards per game while posting a 108.5 passer rating. If the Buccaneers earn their second number one seed in franchise history, the first since the 2002 season, when they won the Super Bowl, then don’t be surprised to see Mayfield win the MVP.
