1. Tom Brady– He’s always going to be on this list until he decides to call it a career. Last season, he became the oldest player ever to be named the league’s most valuable player at the age of 40 and there’s no doubt in my mind that he can add a fourth MVP to his legendary resume. This is a guy that has been the face of the Patriots franchise for almost two decades and continues to dominate without elite level skill-position players offensively outside of Rob Gronkowski. Over the last three seasons, he’s thrown 96 touchdown passes, only 17 interceptions and the Patriots have a record of 36-8 over the last three seasons. There’s no reason to believe that Brady isn’t the top MVP candidate entering the 2018 season.
2. Aaron Rodgers– I truly believe he was on his way to having another MVP-esqe season before his season was plagued by a broken collarbone. In the nine games that Aaron missed in 2017, the Packers won only a single game. When he’s on the field, this is one of the three best offenses in the league, when he isn’t there, you see just how much he means to that offense and how different they look without him. I fully expect to see him back to his typical form in 2018. The Packers added Jimmy Graham after deciding to move on from Jordy Nelson and this could be a match made in heaven for the Packers and their offense. They also have a young rushing attack in the duo of Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones. When Aaron Rodgers is tasked with doing everything, he’s good, but when he has help offensively and things are balanced, he’s unstoppable.
3. Drew Brees– For everything that the future Hall of Famer has accomplished throughout his legendary career, it’s shocking to know that he’s never won an MVP in 17 stellar seasons. Here’s a guy that has won a Super Bowl and Super Bowl MVP, he’s been a pro bowler 11 times in his career and he’s been named the NFL’s offensive player of the year twice. He’s also the holder of an NFL record completing 67 percent of his passes and within the next few seasons, he could pass Peyton Manning on the all-time passing yards list. With Brees in the line-up, the Saints are penciled to win at least ten games and have a much better shot at winning a playoff game. Without him, they win four games and have a top-five pick in the NFL draft.
4. Carson Wentz– I’m really pulling for this guy to come back and pick up where he left off from his 2017 campaign. If Carson doesn’t tear his ACL and misses the rest of the season, he’s the reigning league MVP and he was definitely on his way to winning it. This is a guy that threw for 3,296 yards, 33 touchdowns (the most thrown by a quarterback in Eagles history) to seven interceptions and had led the Eagles to an 11-2 mark prior to the injury. What’s even more impressive is he was able to accomplish this without a running back or wide receiver recording 1,000 yards. If he returns to his form and is 100 percent, he’s a top candidate to win the MVP.
5. Antonio Brown– A non-quarterback had to appear eventually, right? His numbers simply speak for themselves. Over the past five seasons, he’s averaged 114 receptions for 1,550 yards and ten touchdowns. Last season alone was the best I’ve ever seen him look and AB caught 101 passes for 1,553 yards receiving. If he can build on those numbers and the Steelers are in contention, he’ll be in consideration for sure and could become the first wide receiver ever to be named the league’s most valuable player.
Other Candidates– Russell Wilson, Le’Veon Bell, Todd Gurley, Khalil Mack, Von Miller, Odell Beckham, David Johnson, Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette.
