5 Under-the-Radar MVP Candidates For the 2025 NFL Season

At DraftKings right now, the two favorites to win NFL MVP are the two most recent winners of the award: Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills and Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens. 

No surprise there. 

Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes and Jayden Daniels also have odds below +1000 to win MVP in 2025, but nobody else lands below +1700 in MVP futures. 

Let's take a look at five other players who could have sneaky MVP campaigns this year.

Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (+1700)

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Jalen Hurts' fantastic supporting cast probably cost him MVP consideration in 2024, and that's a shame because the uniquely talented star was the NFL's fifth-highest-rated passer while producing a combined 32 touchdowns. 

The problem is only 18 of those came through the air, and the tush push doesn’t win over too many voters. 

However, if Hurts can bolster that number in particular, he could have a chance. Beyond that, injuries to some of his weapons, protectors and supporters could actually help his case if he continues to lead the Eagles to victories under those circumstances. 

Also, consider that the 26-year-old struggled a bit early in 2024 before posting 26 total touchdowns to just one interception for a 114.0 passer rating in his final 11 games (10 of which were wins). 

Hurts was consistently clutch during that long stretch, and his 112.8 passer rating in the fourth quarter of one-score games was tied for the best in football among regular starting signal-callers. 

If he can build on all of that in 2025, a first MVP is within reach.

Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love (+2500)

AP Photo/Mike Roemer

Jordan Love has a high ceiling, which we saw when he went on a five-game run in which he posted a 119.9 passer rating for the Green Bay Packers in the second half of the 2024 campaign. 

Imagine the possibilities if the 26-year-old could sustain a stretch like that over the course of a much larger portion of a season? That's the sort of thing that could move him into the MVP conversation. 

Is it doable? The long-awaited addition of a first-round pick at receiver should help as Matthew Golden joins the fray in 2025. After all, only Daniel Jones saw his receivers drop passes more frequently than Love last year. And it's important to remember this guy has just two full seasons as a starter under his belt.

There's plenty of room for Love to grow, and the support could be there now for a quarterback who posted a 105.7 passer rating on deep attempts last year.

Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray (+2800)

AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

We're creeping deeper into long-shot territory here, but there's no denying Kyler Murray's talent. The Arizona Cardinals also continue to improve on paper, so this could well be their breakout season. 

If that's the trajectory, and if Murray and centerpiece receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. can grow together as a battery in the latter's sophomore campaign, the signal-caller could sneak into the MVP picture. 

Murray has had an up-and-down career but is still just 27. If he stays healthy, don't be surprised if he finally becomes an elite quarterback for an exciting potential contender in 2025.

Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix (+3500)

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

In the final three games of the Denver Broncos' 2024 regular season, Bo Nix posted a 126.0 passer rating while throwing nine touchdown passes to just one interception.

In their final 10 games, the 25-year-old rookie first-round pick threw 24 touchdown passes to seven picks for a 105.7 rating. 

That despite a so-so supporting cast. 

However, the Broncos' generally young receiving corps should improve in 2025 and Nix will have a full offseason under his belt to further acclimate himself.

The Oregon product could do some serious damage, so much so that he may move right into the MVP outlook if Denver is able to make a serious run in the potentially contestable AFC West. 

Don't rule it out.

Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley (+5000)

AP Photo/Chris Szagola

Each of the last 12 MVPs has been a quarterback, but Saquon Barkley finished third behind only Allen and Jackson in MVP voting in 2024. 

The running back and Hurts could again cancel each other out to a degree, and both benefit from the tremendous talent around them.

However, if the Eagles quarterback missed time and more were to fall on Barkley's shoulders—and if Hurts could deliver for a contender—an MVP run is not out of the realm of possibility. 

A lot of “ifs” in that last paragraph, but we're talking about a guy who went over 2,000 yards and scored 15 times in 2024, before putting up 574 yards and rushing for five more touchdowns in the playoffs. 

If Barkley can take it another step and actually take down Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing-yardage record this year, the 28-year-old could become the first MVP at his position since Adrian Peterson in 2012.