Dak Prescott is a sneaky good pick for NFL MVP
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. (Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire)
May 21st, 2020
The odds to win the NFL Most Valuable Player award are available, with Patrick Mahomes as the early favorite.
Mahomes won the NFL MVP at the conclusion of his glorious 2018 season, and last season led the Kansas City Chiefs to their first Super Bowl title since 1969. Odds on Mahomes to win MVP are +350 at BetAmerica, with Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks and Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens right behind him.
Look even further down the board, and a number of players present an interesting preseason argument for the MVP award, particularly Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.
Odds to win NFL MVP
| Player | NFL MVP Odds |
|---|
Patrick Mahomes | +350 |
Russell Wilson | +550 |
Lamar Jackson | +600 |
Deshaun Watson | +1200 |
Drew Brees | +1400 |
Dak Prescott | +1400 |
Carson Wentz | +1600 |
Dak Prescott is currently tied with Drew Brees for the fifth best odds to win the NFL MVP next season, with odds of +1400 at BetAmerica.
Prescott took a big step forward in 2019
Prescott’s 2019 campaign has likely moved him closer to the top tier of contenders for the award, as he took a significant step forward in his development, particularly in the pass game, under first-year offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.
Dak Prescott to Devin Smith.
— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) September 15, 2019
51 yards.
Touchdown.pic.twitter.com/HGtVBvgo9B
Last season, Prescott threw for 4,902 yards and 30 touchdowns. Both totals smashed his previous career highs, including the 23 touchdown tosses in his first year when he won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He finished the 2019 season with the fourth best Adjusted Total Quarterback Rating on ESPN.
Only Jackson, Mahomes, and Brees finished with a better rating.
Prescott’s output last season even garnered whispers of his name in the MVP conversation, although very few would have heard them given what Jackson did for the Ravens. Nonetheless, Prescott put together a fine season overall.
The playmaking potential of the Cowboys pass game
The Cowboys offense continued to add to their receiving corps this offseason, drafting Oklahoma product CeeDee Lamb in the first round of the NFL Draft last month. He should have the opportunity to come in and contribute right away after an impressive college career with the Sooners.
Prescott also has Amari Cooper, a deep threat coming off his best season in the NFL, and Michael Gallup, who finished with more than 1,100 yards receiving on 66 catches and 113 targets in 2019.
The Cowboys also have a duel threat running back in Ezekiel Elliott.
Amari Cooper highlights Cowboys vs Packers 2019 NFL regular season Week 5 pic.twitter.com/uoSt8L44Ru
— ✭ 🤠 Cowboy X Factor #LosttoWorstTeamimNFL (@CowboyXFactor) October 7, 2019
Personal motivation should be a factor
The Cowboys will have larger expectations on them this season, after missing the playoffs a year ago, and Prescott will enter the year with a mountain of pressure to deliver.
This won’t be just about the team’s success, either. Personal motives should have an impact here. Prescott is searching for a long-term contract but neither his side or the Cowboys have been able to reach an agreement. On Thursday, the saga took another twist.
Dak Prescott: 3rd most valuable player in 2019 per PFF WAR.
— PFF (@PFF) May 21, 2020
Per @CSimmsQB, the Dallas Cowboys offered him a deal worth $35m per season. pic.twitter.com/H70KckGP4W
As much as football is a team sport, the individual factor cannot be ignored. Prescott can demand to be perhaps the highest paid QB in football’s history, but an MVP season in 2020 would command it.
The favorites ahead of him in the MVP market all deserve to be there. But Prescott could end up being a sneaky good pick.
Bet the Super Bowl LV finalists and other NFL futures at BetAmerica.
ADVERTISEMENT
