EXCLUSIVE: Not Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen, former NFL player names surprise pick for NFL MVP award

After 11 weeks in the current season of the NFL, there are a number of MVP candidates such as Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, and others. Mahomes is the clear favorite to win his second MVP award as he is now at minus odds to get the award. He went from +150 to -150 this past week.

Yet, former NFL linebacker Ike Reese has come up with a very unique pick for an MVP nominee.

Reese, who played with the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1998-2006, spoke with Sportskeeda in an exclusive interview and gave his opinion on who he thinks will win the MVP award.

"No doubt about it. I answer that part first. Yeah. Because that's the easy part. The answer, yeah, no doubt about it. He's in that MVP conversation. And for me, he should be, if not one, no worse than two. You can go back and forth between Mahomes and Josh Allen. But I think Josh Allen has fallen off a little bit over the last couple of weeks.

"But Jalen is a guy that's right there at the forefront because he's the engine that drives this offense. And most likely Lamar does in Baltimore. But even I think Reggie, to a higher degree, because I think he throws the ball better than Lamar Jackson."

Reese thinks that Hurts, who has the third-highest odds to win the award, will end up on top and take the MVP title.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has the second-highest odds at +500 with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Hurts behind him in third at +550.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is at +700 and AFC North quarterbacks Joe Burrow (+1800) and Lamar Jackson (+3000) crack the top six list of highest odds to win MVP.

---

Comparing the NFL MVP candidates' stats

Jalen Hurts is definitely one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL this year, and deserves to be in the MVP conversation. He has led the Eagles to a league-best 9-1 record, while scoring a total of 23 touchdowns and gaining over 2,800 total yards.

Mahomes has an 8-2 record with 28 passing touchdowns and 3,265 yards. He's been playing lights out and the Chiefs have one of the highest-scoring offences in the NFL.

Miami Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa has a 7-1 record as a starter this season and has been one of the most efficient quarterbacks with a passer rating of 118.4.

It's a tight race and any of these quarterbacks can win the award, but as the weeks get closer to the post-season, we'll have a better idea of who will end up winning.

If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Ike Reese and H/T Sportskeeda