'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 - Cooper Kupp
If 2021 is anything to go by, Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford could become one of the most deadly duos in NFL history. Kupp led the league in receiving yards (1,947), receptions (145) and touchdowns (16) in Stafford's first season as a Los Angeles Ram. He also helped the Rams win Super Bowl XLI, where he took home the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award, catching two touchdowns in the game.
If Kupp can keep up with or better his 2021 return, many fans across the league will be demanding that he is in the MVP conversation.
#2 - T.J. Watt
T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers must count himself unfortunate that he wasn’t in the MVP talk much during the 2021 season. Watt did take home the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award as he set a record of 22.5 sacks, but he missed out completely in the MVP vote.
It’s a known fact across the league that the MVP has been biased towards offensive players for years now, with the last defensive Most Valuable Player being Hall of Famer linebacker Lawrence Taylor, who won the award way back in 1986.
If Watt can better his 2021 campaign, he will rightfully be in the race.
#1 - Aaron Donald
There is an argument to be made that no non-quarterback is more valuable in the league than Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Donald has been a game-wrecker since entering the league in 2014, and the Pittsburgh product has made the Pro Bowl every year of his career. Not only that, Donald effectively sealed the Rams’ Super Bowl win over the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this year, hassling quarterback Joe Burrow to an incomplete pass.
Donald is constantly double and triple-teamed, as opposition coaches have to basically plan their whole scheme to stop Donald getting to their quarterback, and even when they do so, he’s taking up so much attention it allows his teammates to get to the signal-caller.
It wouldn’t be a shock to anyone if Donald, who agreed to return for the 2022 season, had an MVP-calibre season and took home the award.
