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With the NFL Draft in the rear view mirror and the NFL schedule reveal just around the corner, fans have started getting into an NFL mindset again. Draft grades and position rankings are flying out left and right. Not all of those rankings are going to be perfect though, and a recent ranking is proof.
To say that this list has received backlash would be an understatement. Based on the responses to this list, you’d think that the writer was wanted for a series of unforgivable crimes. The most unforgivable being placing San Francisco 49ers‘ quarterback Brock Purdy in his No. 2 spot.
Still, CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin has his reasoning. In his article detailing this list, Benjamin says of Purdy, «Let’s give the kid the respect he deserves. Two seasons, two NFC title games, one valiant Super Bowl effort. Does he have a sterling setup in San Francisco? Yep. Does he operate like a 10-year vet, managing the pocket as both an efficient and mobile gunslinger? Also yep.»
Those are all valid arguments for the 49ers’ signal-caller. That said, it’s still a wild claim to assume that Purdy, who has not been a starter for two full seasons and didn’t finish top-two in MVP voting last year among quarterbacks is a top-two quarterback.
Obviously, any list like this is entirely subjective. There’s no way to definitively state who the best quarterbacks in football are. The only universally agreed upon ranking is Patrick Mahomes at No. 1. Other than that, everything appears to be fair game. That said, the best way to truly determine the best quarterbacks in football would be to look at their MVP odds. Sure, there are factors that play into this, most notably the talent that surrounds the quarterback. But unless a drastic change in a team’s position players occurs between years (sorry, Chargers fans), those MVP odds tend to reflect the best quarterbacks in the league.
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So, here are the ten quarterbacks with the best MVP odds heading into the 2024-25 season. All odds via BetMGM.
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NFL starting quarterback Power Rankings:
T-8) Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (+1600)
Jalen Hurts is just two years removed from finishing second in MVP voting, but took a massive tumble in 2023 in the public’s eye. Now, ahead of the 2024 season, Hurts has lost his All-Pro center, but gained an upgrade at running back with Saquon Barkley joining him in the Eagles’ backfield. Hurts will undoubtedly be a rushing threat and boasts arguably the best supporting cast of any quarterback in the NFL with Pro Bowlers A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Saquon Barkley all backing him up, and that’s without even mentioning stud tight end Dallas Goedert.
T-8) Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (+1600)
Purdy and Hurts receive many of the same benefits, but it only seems like Purdy gets penalized for it. Sure, Purdy has the best running back in the NFL in Christian McCaffrey and an All-Pro tight end in George Kittle, but he also certainly has a worse offensive line overall than Hurts. Regardless, Purdy elevated the 49ers to new heights when he took over for Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance in 2022. He will almost assuredly lead the 49ers on another deep playoff run in 2024.
T-8) Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (+1600)
For the first time in Dak Prescott’s career, he will be going into the season without a true starting running back in the backfield with him. While this could be an awesome opportunity for Prescott to reach new heights as the team leans on him more than ever, it could also allow opposing defenses to key in on the pass and prevent big plays. This could be a make-or-break year for the 2023 MVP runner-up.
T-6) Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (+1400)
Jordan Love emerged in a big way for the Packers in the second half of last season. With the addition of Josh Jacobs, there’s reason to believe Love could be in for an even bigger year. Of course, the hope is that a true No. 1 receiver emerges for Love as well. That would go a long way in helping Love’s MVP case. Whether that receiver will be Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, or any of the other Green Bay receivers that made big plays for the team down the stretch has yet to be seen.
T-6) Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (+1400)
The Los Angeles Chargers made Justin Herbert’s job much more difficult in 2024 by trading away Keenan Allen and letting both Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler go this offseason. Not even Gerald Everett remains to help Herbert out. Only Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston are returning. Still, perhaps this is good news for Herbert’s MVP case. Without a star-studded cast surrounding him, Herbert could prove to be elite regardless of the talent he has playing alongside him. Furthermore, he should be better protected than ever with Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater manning the tackle positions.
5) Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens (+1200)
The two-time MVP in fifth place seems a little disrespectful. Of course, there are reasons to doubt Jackson’s viability as a repeat MVP. For one, the addition of Derrick Henry should give the Ravens a legitimate threat in the backfield they haven’t had since before J.K. Dobbins’ first injury. If Henry takes on the brunt of the rushing attack, then Jackson may not get the same rushing numbers that made him an MVP candidate in the first place.
4) CJ Stroud, Houston Texans (+1000)
The reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year just added Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon? Yeah, it should be easy to understand why Stroud is so high on this list.
T-2) Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (+900)
We saw how much the Bengals took a step back when Jake Browning was under center. Even with Tee Higgins having one of the worst years of his career, Joe Burrow was solid when healthy. Sure, his touchdown percentages and completion percentages took a dip, but it’s reasonable to assume he was playing through some sort of injury as well. The Bengals are clearly a much better team when they have their MVP candidate under center.
T-2) Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills (+900)
Yeah, Josh Allen might turn the ball over a little more than fans would like, but there’s no denying that, more than anyone else in the NFL, Allen can make anything happen on any given play. Although 2024 will be his first year without Stefon Diggs since 2020, this is still the same guy that made John Brown a 1,000-yard receiver in 2019. He nearly made Cole Beasley a 1,000-yard receiver in 2020 as well. He still has players like Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, and Keon Coleman to back him up.
1) Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (+600)
This should not be a shock to anyone. Time and time again, Patrick Mahomes has proven that he is the most talented, reliable quarterback in the league. Even last year, during the worst statistical season of his career, with his star tight end Travis Kelce playing some of the worst football of his career, Mahomes won a Super Bowl. It doesn’t matter how poorly he plays in any given game, you can never count Mahomes out. He’s too talented. Although Travis Kelce is getting older and Rashee Rice’s future is still up in the air, the Chiefs drafted Xavier Worthy to ensure Mahomes would still have a high-end target to throw to.
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