With the conclusion of another electrifying NFL regular season comes another hostile debate: Who deserves to be named the league’s regular season Most Valuable Player (MVP) for their play over the last 18 weeks of football?
There’s plenty of star power to choose from and many storylines to highlight, but there can only be one winner.
Here are my top five MVP favourites of the 2024 regular season.
5. Jared Goff, Quarterback (Detroit Lions)
After an impressive performance in the season finale on Jan. 5, which secured their second-straight NFC North title and the coveted number one seed in the NFC with a 31-9 statement win over the Minnesota Vikings, Jared Goff solidified himself as an MVP candidate by leading the Detroit Lions to an impressive 15-2 record.
As one of only two teams in the league to win 15 games this season, Detroit’s stellar offence led by Goff in the backfield ranked among the league’s best offences in 2024. The Lions’ offence finished first in points per game (33.2) and total touchdowns (70) as well as second in yards per game (409.5), while Goff ranked second amongst quarterbacks in passing yards (4,629), completion percentage (72.4 per cent) and passer rating (111.8) as well as fourth in passing touchdowns (37).
Goff has also shown a knack for living up to the big moments, including six 300-plus passing yard games this season — tied for the second-most this season — highlighted by a 494-yard, five touchdown performance in a potential Super Bowl preview versus the Bills in week 15.
While the 30-year-old’s play has been inspirational for a team destined to make their first Super Bowl appearance ever, Goff is likely a longshot to win the award, underlining the gap between himself and the other quarterbacks on this list.
4. Saquon Barkley, Running Back (Philadelphia Eagles)
2,000 rushing yards — that’s the mark that Saquon Barkley achieved this season to become only the ninth running back in the history of the NFL to reach that milestone and the first since Derrick Henry in 2020.
With 2,005 rushing yards in 2024 to go along with 278 yards in the air, Philadelphia’s gamble in signing the veteran free agent has significantly paid off after the Giants refused to pay the 27-year-old in the offseason.
Now, New York wishes they re-signed Barkley, who clipped 176 rushing yards in a return to MetLife Stadium — one of his league-leading 11 games this season where he surpassed 100 rushing yards in a game — as the former Penn State back led the league with 125.3 rushing yards per game.
Barkley’s season-high 302 scrimmage yards in a win against the Los Angeles Rams was the most scrimmage yards in a game by any back or receiver this season, which helped the Eagles claim the NFC East division title.
In any other year, Barkley would deserve to be higher on this list and possibly win the award for the historic season he’s had, but the players ahead have had even more stellar seasons in their own regard.
3. Joe Burrow, Quarterback (Cincinnati Bengals)
It wasn’t long ago that the Bengals were 4-8 and halfway to Puerta Vallarta for the offseason, but Joe Burrow, destined to lead his team to the playoffs, rallied five consecutive wins to close the season.
The Bengals ultimately missed the postseason after the Broncos defeated the Chiefs in week 18, but despite the heartbreaking end to the season, Burrow had one of the most sensational seasons by a quarterback in the 21st century. He led the NFL in passing yards (4,918) and passing touchdowns (43) — recording the eighth most passing touchdowns in a season since 2000.
He also recorded a league-high seven 300-plus passing yard games, including 412 yards in a 39-completion, four-total-touchdown performance in the penultimate game of the season against Denver to show his aptitude for playing up to the occasion in the big moments.
His stellar quarterback play led the Cincy offence to tally the sixth most points per game this season (27.8), making them the only team that missed the playoffs to crack the top 11 in that category.
Had the Bengals qualified for the playoffs, the narrative of leading a mediocre team into the playoffs would’ve been in Burrow’s favour as he likely would’ve leapfrogged into the top spot. But since MVP voters place a lot of stock into the end-of-season standings, a 9-8 football team that missed the playoffs doesn’t scream MVP winner despite the individual statistics Burrow has to back him up.
2. Lamar Jackson, Quarterback (Baltimore Ravens)
Lamar showed this year that he isn’t a one-trick pony by showcasing his passing abilities, which complement his highlight-reel speed and shiftiness that allows him to dance around opponents.
The two-time MVP led the Baltimore Ravens to their second straight AFC North title, passing the Pittsburgh Steelers who had commanding control of the top spot for much of the season.
In their late-season matchup against the Steelers in week 16, which gave Baltimore control of the division, Jackson threw three of his career-high 41 touchdowns on the season, ranking second to only Burrow in that category.
The Louisville product also hit career highs with 4,172 passing yards (sixth in the NFL), 245.4 passing yards per game (11th in the NFL) and 316 completions (15th in the NFL), significantly outperforming his MVP-winning statistics from a season ago.
Although Jackson’s statistics should excite the number gurus, one thing that is against him winning his second consecutive MVP is voter fatigue, where voters seemingly shy away from giving a player the same award in two straight seasons. Since 2000, there have only been three instances of players winning back-to-back MVP awards — Aaron Rodgers in 2020 and 2021, and Peyton Manning in 2003 and 2004 as well as 2008 and 2009 — but Jackson hopes to be the fourth back-to-back winner of the century.
1. Josh Allen, Quarterback (Buffalo Bills)
While the four guys ahead of Josh Allen have better statistics than the Buffalo quarterback, the Bills’ star has been finding success without the offensive weapons that the other quarterbacks have.
After losing Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis in the offseason, the Bills’ leaders in receiving yards and receptions from last season, Allen continued and even elevated his play this year without any Pro Bowl backs or receivers at his disposal.
Allen finished the 2024 campaign with the fourth-most total touchdowns (41) and the most rushing touchdowns amongst quarterbacks (12), while getting sacked the second fewest times (63) and throwing the fourth fewest interceptions (6) this season.
The 28-year-old also led the Bills to beat both number-one seeds, the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions, by scoring a combined 78 points in those two games as Buffalo averaged the second most points per game with 30.9.
He also added to his bag of tricks this year, throwing a passing touchdown to himself to become the first quarterback in NFL history with a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game, defeating last season’s Super Bowl runner-up 49ers in the process.
Their 35-10 thumping of San Francisco on Dec. 1 clinched the Bills’ fifth-straight AFC East title and may have solidified Allen as the MVP winner for the 2024 season.
The MVP award will be announced at the NFL Honors on Feb. 6, ahead of the Super Bowl on Feb. 9.
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