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2023 NFL Season: Evaluation 3 darkhorse MVP candidates

By Lou Scataglia

2023 NFL offseason: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns reacts against the Washington Commanders during the second half of the game at FedExField on January 1, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
2023 NFL offseason: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns reacts against the Washington Commanders during the second half of the game at FedExField on January 1, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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The 2023 NFL season is only a couple of months away. Who can we look at as being three darkhorse MVP candidates in the coming season?  To the surprise of likely no one, Patrick Mahomes won the NFL MVP award in the 2022 season.  That was his second career MVP award and he is surely going to be the favorite to win it again in 2023.

However, there are a ton of elite players in the NFL that are very much capable of winning the most prestigious individual honor in the NFL, besides the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.  Depending on who you ask, the MVP award is not exactly always the most valuable player; it seems to have turned into the most valuable quarterback award.

And it doesn’t seem like that trend is going to stop anytime soon.  Even though the NFL still does have a shortage of top QB talent, the top QBs in the NFL are truly elite, so it’s likely that the 2023 NFL season sees another QB win the MVP award.

So, besides the most obvious choices for the MVP award in 2023 like Mahomes, Burrow, Allen, and Hurts, let’s look into some darkhorse candidates to win it in 2023.

2023 NFL Season
NFL Power Rankings, Aaron Rodgers: Russell Wilson #3 of the Denver Broncos attempts a pass during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field At Mile High on January 08, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

2023 NFL Season: Evaluation 3 darkhorse MVP candidates

Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos

Surprisingly, Russell Wilson has never received an MVP vote during his career even though he has had a few MVP-caliber seasons during his time with the Seattle Seahawks.  In 2023, Wilson appears to have the best possible situation around him when you consider the offensive line, weapons, and coaching.

The 2022 season for Wilson was the worst of his football career.  He looked like a broken player who was inefficient, banged up, and was not playing in an offense that maximized his talents.  Nathaniel Hackett was in over his head and was clearly not ready to be an NFL head coach.

However, 2023 appears to be different.  Not only did the Denver Broncos boost their offensive line in free agency with additions of Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers, but they traded for Sean Payton to be their new head coach.

Payton has a Hall of Fame resume as a head coach and offensive mind with the New Orleans Saints.  He brings, objectively speaking, an elite offensive mindset to the Broncos.  Payton was also able to get a ton out of Drew Brees, especially during the 2017-2020 seasons when Brees was aging into his 40s.

I think Russell Wilson is still a very talented QB and will get to showcase what he does best with Sean Payton.

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