Ranking the 3 most likely MVP candidates for the 2022 NFL season

Most likely players to win NFL MVP in 2022

2. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

I think the argument could have been made that Joe Burrow should have won the MVP award last year.

The Bengals had an absurd turnaround from being the absolute worst team in the NFL in 2019 to a legitimate Super Bowl contender in 2021 and the foreseeable future.

Joe Burrow threw for over 30 touchdown passes last season and had a passer rating of over 100.  He managed to do all of this working behind perhaps the worst offensive line in the entire NFL.

He took way too many sacks, and the offensive line was a big reason why he tore his ACL in 2021.

In free agency, the Bengals made solid investments along the offensive line, signing Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, and La’el Collins, who are probably starting at center, right guard, and right tackle, respectively.

Now the Bengals appear to have four quality pieces along the line, which would include Jonah Williams as well.

Burrow is going to be kept more upright and should be an even more efficient passer in 2022.

With the Bengals returning an improved offense and their defensive core, look for them to be just as good as they were in 2021, perhaps even better.

Joe Burrow is now positioned to win an MVP award.  I do think Justin Herbert is a better quarterback, but Burrow’s seen more success in the NFL, so I think he’d get a slight nod ahead of Herbert for 2022 at least.