Awarded annually to the player that best exemplifies regular season excellence, the race for the 2022 NFL MVP will be a scorching one. Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers is the reigning MVP and is coming off back-to-back honors. However, given the overall strength of the quarterback position in the modern NFL, he narrowly missed the cut to be discussed on this top four countdown. In fact this list features only one former MVP (Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes) and three potential first-time honorees if things break the right way for them in 2022.
For this article SBS will go over what each contender brings to the table along with their chances to bring home the highest individual player honor in professional football.
| Favorites to Win The 2022 NFL MVP |  |
|---|---|
| Josh Allen | +500 |
| Justin Herbert | +550 |
| Patrick Mahomes | +900 |
| Joe Burrow | +1100 |
Coming off another fantastic dual-threat season, Allen has the Bills in position to win their first Super Bowl ever. Last year the Wyoming product threw for 4,407 yards along with accounting for 763 yards on the ground. With 42 combined scores he was able to pilot Buffalo to a 11-6 record and an AFC East title. While Allen was certainly superb when it came to accruing yards and scores, he was unable to get past Mahomes and Kansas City in the playoffs. Following an instant classic of a game in the AFC Divisional Round (which Buffalo narrowly lost in overtime), the 26-year old certainly will be hungry to get over the hump this season.
The only player on this list that has never been to the NFL Playoffs, Herbert should check that off the list this season along with potentially much more. Standing at a stout 6-foot-6, Herbert is entering his third year in the league and has already achieved Pro Bowl and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. In 2021 he set Chargers franchise records for most passing yards in a season (5,014) along with most passing touchdowns ever by a Chargers quarterback (38). What’s remarkable about Herbert’s progress is that he has had two head coaches in his first two seasons and now has even more help on the offensive line in 2022. This could be the key in unlocking the next step in his superstar journey.
Still only 26 years old, Mahomes is the most accomplished player on this countdown and for good reason. The 2018 NFL MVP, Mahomes also won the Super Bowl following the 2019-20 NFL Playoffs and will be looking for his second title this season. A four-time Pro Bowl selection, the Texas Tech product is coming off another stellar year where he threw for 37 scores along with accounting for over 5,000 total yards. While he will most likely be geared up for another amazing year, he will be without his top wide receiver, Tyreek Hill who departed to Miami this offseason. However, he still will be able to rely on the services of trusty Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce.
The last spotlight on our list, Burrow almost led his upstart Bengals to Super Bowl glory last season. Already Cincinnati’s franchise leader for passer rating and completion percentage, Burrow had an amazing 2021 campaign and should be ready for more this year. Following a rather underwhelming rookie season due to injury, Burrow exploded in 2021 with 4,611 passing yards and 34 passing scores. After notching a 10-6 record over 16 games as the Bengals starter, he was able to pilot Cincy to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1988. While Burrow and his squad narrowly fell to the Los Angeles Rams, 23-20, it was perhaps a foreshadowing of many great things to come from the LSU product.
Prediction: A stacked competition, there certainly is no shortage of elite talent at the quarterback. With that in mind, a new face will emerge in 2022 with Herbert taking home the award behind a revamped Bolts offensive line.
As you are wrapping up your research on the NFL MVP race, a great resource to also check out is our NFL wagering guide. On this page you can find all kinds of great gridiron information along with the best bonuses to keep you moving along. On the topic of bonuses, another fantastic guide to check out is our welcome bonuses breakdown page which gives you the latest ways to get the best bang for your buck. Finally, if you would like a thorough overview of all the different ways to place your bets, then our payment options overview is just the thing for you.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
Read Chris's ProfileAsk Chris about this guide:
