Who Should Be the 2022 NFL MVP

By: Garret Kryzanowski

The NFL has released the short list for the NFL MVP finalists and it is one of the best lists we've seen in recent years. Now before anyone gets mad, the MVP award is a regular season award and what happens in the playoffs has no merit on who wins the award. Unlike past years there is no clear favourite for who should win and an argument could be made for all the finalists, so that is what we're going to do.

We are going to start with the only non quarterback on the list, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Jefferson is quickly become one of if not the best wide receiver in the league, being a crucial reason that the Vikings went 13-4 this past season. Now, his teams record isn't the only reason Jefferson is an MVP finalist. Statistically it was Jefferson's best season in his young three year career. Not only did he have a career high 128 catches but also a career high 1809 receiving yards and added eight receiving touchdowns. He changes the game like few can, creating mismatches with even the best cornerbacks and safeties in the NFL. A double team won't work, if you're going to stop Jefferson you need to stop his quarterback because you cannot stop Jefferson. He deserves to be on this MVP list, however I don't believe he will be the one hosting the award on February 9, 2023 as the MVP award is sadly a quarterback driven award.

Next up on the list is one of the preseason MVP favourites, quarterback of the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen. Now, Allen has quickly become a fan favorite not only in the Buffalo area but with anyone who is a fan of the NFL. His strong arm and ability to run over any defender who stands in his way is what makes the Buffalo Bills a Super Bowl favourite every year. In the 2022 season Josh Allen played incredibly well helping the Bills to a 13-3 record and the number two seed in the AFC playoffs. Now wins have always been more of a team statistic in my opinion but the numbers he put up speak for themselves. Allen had 4283 passing yards as well as 35 touchdown passes and added seven rushing touchdowns for a total of 42 total touchdowns. I also believe Allen deserves to be on the short list for MVP but I do not think he will be hosting the MVP award this coming February for one reason, turnovers. Josh Allen for all he does sometimes tries to do too much and that can be seen in the turnover category. In the 2022 season Allen had 14 interceptions and five fumbles lost for a total of 19 turnovers. Those are too many turnovers to be named the MVP of the league, especially when other quarterbacks had tremendous seasons as well.

Also on the list is perhaps one of the swaggiest quarterbacks on and off the field, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Taking the world by storm last season, Burrow lead the Bengals to the Super Bowl last season for the first time since 1988. Now even though they didn't win the Super Bowl the team capitalized on the momentum they created and that included swaggy quarterback Joe Burrow. After a pre season appendectomy Burrow went back to being the tough as nails quarterback that will do anything to win, and that's exactly what they did. After a slow 2-3 start the Bengals became one of the hottest teams in the NFL finishing the season on a 10-1 run to finish with a 12-4 record. The main reason for the Bengals success, Joe Burrow. Burrow had a career year totaling 4475 passing yards, 35 passing touchdowns as well as five rushing touchdowns in only 16 games. All Joe Burrow does is win and look damn cool while he does it, unfortunately I don't believe this is the year Burrow wins MVP. His numbers and his teams record stack up very well with the other finalists but the last two finalists on the list have made a slightly more compelling case as to why they are the MVP.

Second last on the list is the player I would choose as the NFL MVP, quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles Jalen Hurts. After making the playoffs last season as the seven seed the Eagles were looking to improve on all fronts, including at quarterback and that's exactly what they did. The Eagles went from a 9-8 record in 2021 to a 14-3 record in the 2022 NFL season including a 14-1 record with Jalen Hurts starting at quarterback. One of the greatest stories of the year was the growth tha Jalen Hurts made in the off season and all season he was the MVP favourite until a shoulder injury sidelined him for two games, games the Eagles lost. Now, only playing 15 games didn't mean his numbers were any less impressive as he had the best year of his young career with 3702 passing yards and 22 passing touchdowns. He also added 760 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns for a total of 4462 yards and 35 total touchdowns. However impressive these numbers and the Eagles record are I do believe that missing those two games will hinder Hurts in the MVP voting. Hurts is who I think the MVP should be, however, in my unbiased journalistic opinion he will finish second in voting.

Last on the list is the player most expect to be the 2022 NFL MVP, quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes. Now, Patrick Mahomes could be the MVP every single year with the numbers he puts up and how dominant the Chiefs have been since Mahomes became the starter in 2018. The 2022 season was no different for the former MVP as the Chiefs cruised to a 14-3 record and the top seed in the AFC. One of the main reasons the Chiefs were so good, Mahomes. His season was one of the more impressive seasons we have seen as he threw for 5250 yards and 41 touchdown passes. While adding four rushing touchdowns for an impressive 45 total touchdowns. As I stated earlier I truly believe that MAhomes could be the MVP every single year he has played a full season. The reason he hasn't is due to the fact that he is too talented for his own good. He has set the bar so high that we are harder on him then any other player in the league with the exception of maybe Tom Brady. Even though he isn't who I would choose to win this award I do believe the 2018 MVP will be adding another trophy to his impressive collection.

The finalists this year are one of the best lists i've seen in a very long time and every person on the list is deserving of the award in there own way. With that being said, I would be incredibly shocked if Patrick Mahomes wasn't the NFL's 2022 MVP.