We are getting closer and closer to the NFL regular season arriving and we all can’t wait to see the big-time plays come from the best stars. Aaron Rodgers took home MVP honors last season. Will he be able to do so again for the Green Bay Packers? In this piece, we have our NFL individual awards picks for 2021. And while we think Rodgers will ball out, he’s not our pick for MVP.
Entering the new season, all eyes will be on the signal caller over in Kansas City. Indeed, Patrick Mahomes holds the best odds to take home the MVP award and that should surprise no one. Mahomes, coming off offseason foot surgery, is more than motivated after he and Kansas City fell to Tom Brady and Tampa Bay in the Super Bowl back in February. It was a stunner.
With the Chiefs completely revamping the offensive line, highlighted by signing Joe Thuney to a five-year, $80 million contract, that’s only going to help the Chiefs be dominant in the AFC next season. This will only make life easier for Mahomes as well. He’s outstanding at throwing the ball all over the field and he’s also able to make plays with his legs as well.
| NFL MVP odds |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahomes to win | +500 | +500 | +500 | +500 |
| Rodgers to win | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Brady to win | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Allen to win | +1300 | +1300 | +1300 | +1300 |
Per the Las Vegas sportsbooks, Mahomes indeed holds the best NFL odds for MVP, as he’s been set at +500. As for Rodgers, he’s placed at +1000. Others in contention are Tom Brady at +1200, Josh Allen at +1300, Dak Prescott at +1500 and Lamar Jackson at +1700. That’s all quarterbacks, which speaks to their importance across the league each year.
In terms of who will end up winning, how could it not be Mahomes? He’s been brilliant ever since he came into the league and took over as Kansas City’s starter. The fact that he’s fully healthy and fired up after losing in the Super Bowl last year is only going to push him to have an even bigger year. Yup, Mahomes is our pick. Do you agree with us? Check out our NFL betting sites and get a wager in.
In terms of rookies, Justin Fields is poised to have a big year for the Chicago Bears. The first-round pick is in the middle of quite a battle for the No. 1 job with Andy Dalton, but Fields really showcased how great he can be with a strong preseason showing going up against the Miami Dolphins. Fields rushed for a touchdown and also tossed a beautiful TD pass to TE Jesse James.
He’s not the only rookie to keep an eye on, however. Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence has the best odds to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year with his +300 odds. Meanwhile, for Fields, he’s been set at +500. Don’t forget about San Francisco 49ers QB Trey Lance either, as he’s been placed at +600. It’s up in the air if he’ll be able to take over the QB1 job over Jimmy Garappolo too. Fields’ status for Week 1 is totally unclear.
“If we play Justin early to satisfy our needs, and not to do what’s best for Justin and the Chicago Bears, we’re going to ruin Justin and hurt the Bears,” Bears coach Matt Nagy said. “We need to do is what’s best for the Chicago Bears—not only right now but we want this to be something that lasts 15 years. Not two years. What happens is, people, get stuck in the moment, and they do it to satisfy themselves. I’m gonna do what’s best for Justin Fields.”
Although Fields may not win the starting job to open up the season, we do think he’ll end up taking over the offence shortly after the 2021 campaign gets underway. While the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year battle is going to be a close one – with several guys in the hunt to win the award – we’re going with Fields as our pick. He’ll be ready to put on a show once his number is called.
While the focus of this article thus far has been on the offensive side of the ball, who will end up winning NFL Defensive Player of the Year? There are several guys in the mix, and the list of course includes stud Los Angeles Rams pass-rusher Aaron Donald. Donald is a future Hall-of-Famer, as he’s simply a beast in the trenches making plays.
Per the oddsmakers, Donald has the No. 1 odds to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year, holding +500 odds. Not too far behind him, though, is Cleveland Browns pass-rusher Myles Garrett. Garrett himself is a force and was born to take down quarterbacks for sacks. Per Vegas, Garrett has +600 odds to earn the top honor for a defensive player in the league.
TJ Watt, Nick Bosa, Chase Young and Joey Bosa are also guys that fans will want to keep an eye on from start to finish for the season. With all of that said, we think it will come down to either Donald or Garrett winning DPOY. These guys will be neck-and-neck, as both the Rams and Browns figure to have strong years. At the end of the day, we’re going with Garrett as our pick.
