5 surprise candidates for the NFL MVP award in 2022
Aaron Rodgers has been the standout performer in the NFL for the past two years, and the Green Bay Packers quarterback was selected as the league’s MVP for both seasons.
The expectation is that Rodgers will once again be in the conversation for the award for the upcoming season, irrespective of Davante Adams’ departure to Las Vegas. However, there are a number of players who are going under the radar as possible outside candidates to be MVP in 2022.
Tom Brady’s return from his very brief retirement has opened up the MVP conversation even further, especially if he can convince Rob Gronkowski to return to Tampa Bay.
From a veteran in a new environment to a dominant defensive disrupter, there are some surprise contenders this year. Here is a look at five such surprise candidates to become MVP after the upcoming season.
#1. Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan was named the NFL MVP for his performances in the 2016 season, when he carried the Atlanta Falcons to the Super Bowl.
Since that dramatic defeat to the New England Patriots, Matty Ice has seen his form with Atlanta dip as the quality of receivers around him dwindled.
Taking inspiration from the Los Angeles Rams’ success after pursuing a trade for Matthew Stafford, the Indianapolis Colts made an offseason move to bring Ryan in to be the actual replacement for Andrew Luck.
Ryan is a veteran player who can throw the ball as well as anyone in the league. He has thrown for a minimum of 20 touchdowns in each of his NFL seasons, excluding his rookie year, and has thrown for over 4,500 yards in seven of his 14 professional seasons.
Being in a new environment with an exciting offense could rejuvenate Ryan. If he quickly builds a connection with Michael Pittman JR, the former Falcon could string together another MVP-calibre year.
2. Matthew Stafford
Matthew Stafford was under pressure to deliver a Super Bowl championship to Los Angeles, with the Rams having traded for him as the final piece on what was an expensively assembled roster.
In winning the title in the 2021 season, Stafford took a huge monkey off his back, and he can now simply focus on his individual performances.
He produced magnificent throws in his first year with the Rams. But as the pressure to win in the playoffs mounted, the number of small mistakes he made increased.
There will be no such pressure this season, with the Rams having a strong roster and a championship win under their belt. As such, Stafford will be able to play with freedom and utilise the offensive mind of Sean McVay.
The presence of receivers Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson gives Stafford serious options. If he avoids injuries, it’s not unreasonable to expect him to put up MVP numbers in 2022.
Matthew Stafford was the missing piece for a championship offense
You do not win championships by doing 3-yard flats https://t.co/zUG6JpTP7G