Last season, Patrick Mahomes dominated the league and was the clear choice for the 2022 MVP award. However, there are three dark horse candidates that could come out of nowhere and steal the title this season.
1. Justin Jefferson
The first player that is a sleeper for the MVP that could end up winning the award is Justin Jefferson. Jefferson is one of the most exciting young players that the league has to offer. Although he has not been in the NFL for long, he has already established himself as one of the best wide receivers in the league.
Last season, Jefferson pulled in 128 receptions for 1809 yards and 8 touchdowns. This would be good for a career-high in receptions and receiving yards. Jefferson’s incredible 2022 campaign would win him the Offensive Player of the Year award, and he would finish in 5th place in the MVP voting.
Over the offseason, the Minnesota Vikings let Adam Theilin walk in free agency and also released running back Dalvin Cook. With Jefferson being one of the few viable options on offense for the Vikings in the 2023 season, there is a strong chance that he could end up crushing his career year in 2022.
For Jefferson to win the MVP as a wide receiver, he will have to have one of the best seasons of all time, and the Vikings must win their division. This could mean that Jefferson has to go for around 2000 yards to have a real chance at the award, however, he may end up being more than capable of achieving this feat.
2. Jared Goff
Jared Goff is the second player from the NFC North that has a chance of being a dark horse candidate for MVP in the 2023 season. Last season, Goff had a career-reviving season with the Detroit Lions. He would throw for 4438 yards for 29 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. This would be his strongest season through the air since 2019.
The Lions could be one of the most surprising teams in the league next season. They made a strong run through the tail end of the 2022 season on the back of Goff and the elite offensive unit. However, they would fall just short of making the playoffs. With the key additions they made to their defense over the offseason, Detroit should be a very well-rounded team in 2023.
If Goff is able to replicate or even surpass his 2022 numbers, paired with the Lions being one of the most improved teams in the league, he could have a very strong case to win the MVP award.
3. Tua Tagovailoa
Tua Tagovailoa had a breakout season in 2022. Although he would only play in 13 of the 17 regular season games, he would still set a career-high in passing yards and touchdowns. Tagovailoa would finish his 2022 campaign passing for 3548 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions.
If he had been able to put together a full season, he could have been a contender for the MVP award. When he was on the field, the Miami Dolphins had arguably the most dangerous passing attack in the league. The blazing-fast duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylin Waddle would make life very easy for Tua.
The biggest thing that will hold him back from making a run at the MVP award this season will be injuries. Last season, he had a concerning concussion that would lead to doctors recommending that he consider retirement. With these being so common in the NFL, just one wrong hit could keep him sidelined for a considerable amount of time and out of the running for the award.
However, if Tagovailoa can stay healthy and lead the Dolphins through a highly competitive AFC East division, he could be a contender for MVP.
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