Football is a team game, but in the NFL, quarterbacks receive the bulk of the credit for their team's success and, in some cases, undeserved criticism for their failures. Quarterbacks have won the Associated Press (AP) NFL MVP in all but one season since Tom Brady won in 2007. That QB dominance isn't likely to end in 2024, judging by the odds to win the award at most major sportsbooks.
Here's a look at the four quarterbacks who have the shortest odds to win AP NFL MVP in 2024.
Patrick Mahomes (+400)
A two-time MVP, Patrick Mahomes opened the 2024 season as the favorite to win the award, with +400 odds at BetMGM. The 28-year-old former first-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs first won the award in 2018 after leading all quarterbacks in touchdowns (50) and leading the Chiefs to a 12-4 record in the regular season. He won again in 2022, when he finished first in touchdowns (41), passing yards (5,250), and yards per game (308.8).
Mahomes is already the most decorated current quarterback in the NFL and has drawn comparisons to all-time great Tom Brady since winning his third Super Bowl with the Chiefs in 2023. He is also a three-time Super Bowl MVP and has a much better receiving corps this season than he did in 2023.
Josh Allen (+550)
Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, and Lamar Jackson have each won two MVPs since Josh Allen made his debut in 2018. The Buffalo Bills quarterback has been in the same conversation as those players, but has yet to win the award. He finished second in MVP voting in 2020 and has thrown for at least 29 touchdowns and 4,283 yards in each of the last four seasons.
A two-time Pro Bowl quarterback, Allen is also a threat to run every time he touches the ball. He scored a career-best 15 rushing touchdowns in 2023 and had two in the Bills' Week 1 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. He opened the year with +550 odds to win MVP.
C.J. Stroud (+900)
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has third-shortest odds to win MVP at +900 on BetMGM. The second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Stroud won AP Offensive Rookie of the Year last year after leading Houston to a 9-6 record under center while throwing for 23 touchdowns and 4,108 passing yards. He also had just five interceptions, leading all quarterbacks in interception percentage (1.0).
Jalen Hurts (+1,000)
Also a two-time Pro Bowl quarterback, Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles has the fourth-shortest MVP odds at +1,000 on BetMGM. The 26-year-old native of Houston, Texas, selected by the Eagles in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, was MVP runner-up in 2022 and finished last season with 38 combined passing and rushing touchdowns.