NFL MVP Betting Contenders for 2025
Forget the Lombardi Trophy for a second. The most heated argument in football is often about who holds the most singular power: who is the league's Most Valuable Player?
It’s a season-long battle of will, stats and game-winning heroics that separates the superstars from the legends.
The MVP trophy is reserved for the player whose individual brilliance lifts their team to new heights.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the runners and riders for the coveted award in the 2025/26 NFL season and why they’re leading BetMGM’s NFL MVP betting odds.
Lamar Jackson Jr @ 11/2
- Team: Baltimore Ravens
- Position: Quarterback
- Age: 28
- Odds: 11/2
- Previous MVP Awards: 2 (2023, 2019)
The pre-season favourite for the title has won the MVP award twice before, which is already indicative of his consistency and talent.
His dual-threat game is remarkably impressive. Last season, he overhauled Michael Vick for the most career rushing yards in the quarterback position. He achieved the feat in 102 games over seven seasons.
The great Vick set his target in 143 games over 13 years, which gives one a sense of the scale of achievement.
His arm is just as threatening, with a laser-like throw that averaged 8.09 yards per passing attempt, which was the highest of the 2024 season, beating Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions, who averaged 7.71 yards in a distant second place. He also managed 41 touchdown passes – only MVP rival Joe Burrow got more with 43.
At 11/2, those betting odds for NFL MVP pack a good deal of value, even if he’s the shortest in the market.
Josh Allen @ 6/1
- Team: Buffalo Bills
- Position: Quarterback
- Age: 29
- Odds: 6/1
- Previous MVP Awards: 1 (2024)
The perennial nearly man, Josh Allen has won seven NFL playoff games without making a Super Bowl appearance. That’s the most in history by a quarterback.
But it’s now deemed last year’s winner is playing the highest quality football of his career. Could this be the year he leads the Bills to glory?
Last season, Allen was tied with Lamar Jackson at the top of ESPN’s Total Quarterback Rating (TBR) with a score of 74.8, a metric that measures a quarterback's overall contribution to a team's success on a 0-100 scale.
He is the only player in the history of the NFL to complete 40+ touchdown passes in four straight seasons – a nod to his metronomic consistency – and he’s dependable, too, having not missed a game since his rookie season.
He could go back-to-back in the MVP segment. Especially if the Bills get it done this year.
Joe Burrow @ 6/1
- Team: Cincinnati Bengals
- Position: Quarterback
- Age: 28
- Odds: 6/1
- Previous MVP Awards: None
That Joe Burrow is yet to win the MVP award still baffles some observers.
The 28-year-old attempted an astonishing 652 passes last season, 70 more than the next best option (Aaron Rodgers with 584).
He also topped the rankings for the most passing yards (4,918) and touchdowns (43).
His best attribute, however, might be his decision-making ability. He threw 2,863 yards in under 2.5 seconds – the best in this metric.
He offers up incredible numbers on a regular basis. It is no surprise to see him in the market leaders.
Patrick Mahomes @ 7/1
- Team: Kansas City Chiefs
- Position: Quarterback
- Age: 29
- Odds: 7/1
- Previous MVP Awards: 2 (2022, 2018)
Will the Mahomes juggernaut keep rolling on?
He is largely credited with the unprecedented success of the Chiefs over recent years, helping his team to the Super Bowl in three of the previous five campaigns.
Much of his value is measured in intangibles. One such intangible is the natural competitor within.
He’s fiercely driven and backs himself in the big moments. If there is a metric to reflect this aspect of his game, it’s his phenomenal comeback record in the fourth quarter.
At the beginning of the 2025 season, no quarterback across the past five years has a winning record if their team is trailing in the final quarter – apart from Mahomes.
He is a leader and emblematic of an incredibly successful Chiefs outfit.
It was a bitterly disappointing three-peat performance in the Super Bowl last year by the Chiefs as a whole. Mahomes will be out for revenge.
Jayden Daniels @ 10/1
- Team: Washington Commanders
- Position: Quarterback
- Age: 24
- Odds: 10/1
- Previous MVP Awards: None
The NFL Rookie of the Year surpassed all expectations last season, passing 3,568 yards, throwing 25 touchdowns, and completing 891 yards in rushing.
It bought much-needed hope and levity back to the Commanders, a franchise that has endured a rancid period of decline over recent years.
Indeed, such was his impact, Washington finished with a 12-5 record and an appearance in the NFC Championship Game.
They are on the list of some observers as Super Bowl dark horses. The addition of Daniels is key to that upswing in the odds.
One of his biggest strengths is the velocity in his arm throw and his general arm strength, which according to Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, has improved during the pre-season.
He could be one to watch.
2025 NFL MVP Betting Outsiders
Those are the market leaders but what of the outsiders that could make a deep run for the award?
Jalen Hurts @ 20/1: The Eagles quarterback was sensational in helping his team to the Super Bowl in 2024. He won the game’s MVP award after throwing for 221 yards, two touchdowns, and getting in the endzone himself. He’s a big game player for big game moments and is worth tracking.
Jordan Love @ 20/1: Some fans believe Love flies under the radar when discussing the league’s top quarterbacks. He does need to improve in consistency, ranking middle of the pack in most of the key metrics last season. But is he primed for a big season?
Justin Herbert @ 20/1: This is a man on the rise. Last year, the Chargers’ star threw 3,870 yards with 23 touchdowns. You can rely on him to protect the ball. He only threw three interceptions last season – and over his career he averaged 7.67 on the TD
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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
