Dak Prescott is a sneaky good pick for NFL MVP

The odds to win the NFL Most Valuable Player award are available, with Patrick Mahomes as the early favorite. 

Mahomes won the NFL MVP at the conclusion of his glorious 2018 season, and last season led the Kansas City Chiefs to their first Super Bowl title since 1969. Odds on Mahomes to win MVP are +350 at BetAmerica, with Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks and Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens right behind him. 

Look even further down the board, and a number of players present an interesting preseason argument for the MVP award, particularly Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. 

Dak Prescott is currently tied with Drew Brees for the fifth best odds to win the NFL MVP next season, with odds of +1400 at BetAmerica. 

Prescott took a big step forward in 2019

Prescott’s 2019 campaign has likely moved him closer to the top tier of contenders for the award, as he took a significant step forward in his development, particularly in the pass game, under first-year offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. 

Last season, Prescott threw for 4,902 yards and 30 touchdowns. Both totals smashed his previous career highs, including the 23 touchdown tosses in his first year when he won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He finished the 2019 season with the fourth best Adjusted Total Quarterback Rating on ESPN. 

Only Jackson, Mahomes, and Brees finished with a better rating.

Prescott’s output last season even garnered whispers of his name in the MVP conversation, although very few would have heard them given what Jackson did for the Ravens. Nonetheless, Prescott put together a fine season overall.

The playmaking potential of the Cowboys pass game

The Cowboys offense continued to add to their receiving corps this offseason, drafting Oklahoma product CeeDee Lamb in the first round of the NFL Draft last month. He should have the opportunity to come in and contribute right away after an impressive college career with the Sooners. 

Prescott also has Amari Cooper, a deep threat coming off his best season in the NFL, and Michael Gallup, who finished with more than 1,100 yards receiving on 66 catches and 113 targets in 2019.

The Cowboys also have a duel threat running back in Ezekiel Elliott.

Personal motivation should be a factor

The Cowboys will have larger expectations on them this season, after missing the playoffs a year ago, and Prescott will enter the year with a mountain of pressure to deliver. 

This won’t be just about the team’s success, either. Personal motives should have an impact here. Prescott is searching for a long-term contract but neither his side or the Cowboys have been able to reach an agreement. On Thursday, the saga took another twist. 

As much as football is a team sport, the individual factor cannot be ignored. Prescott can demand to be perhaps the highest paid QB in football’s history, but an MVP season in 2020 would command it. 

The favorites ahead of him in the MVP market all deserve to be there. But Prescott could end up being a sneaky good pick. 

Bet the Super Bowl LV finalists and other NFL futures at BetAmerica.