​I love everything about summer—the heat, the vacations, all of it. Well, almost all of it. Hockey and basketball are done, baseball is in the dog days, and there’s one major item left on the golf schedule. I’m starting to feel a bit sports-starved, even though the World Cup has been a blast. But there’s something stirring on the horizon. Training camps open soon, Seattle on July 17, and the Hall of Fame game is less than a month away. Your favorite college program will be heating up soon as well. Thank the man upstairs, football is almost here.
Unpacking the new season can be a bit overwhelming, so what do you want to talk about first? The Super Bowl contenders, the college playoffs, or whether Gus Johnson will finally give himself a coronary on air? Gus is a national treasure, though; we must protect him at all costs. Let’s start at the top with an early look at the top contenders for NFL MVP.
Futures odds courtesy of Caesar’s Sportsbook. It wasn’t a surprise that the top 24 favorites to win MVP were quarterbacks, which is ridiculous yet predictable. There’s no way I can accept Bo Nix (+2400) as a favorite over Christian McCaffrey (+15000), and CJ Stroud (+6000) over…anybody. I’d bet on a returning Drew Brees over Stroud—Brees throws left-handed now, by the way.
In Orchard Park, New York, January 4: Josh Allen, #17 of the Buffalo Bills, takes the field before the game against the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium on January 4, 2026. Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images. Getty Images.
Top of the list, as expected. He’s got Joe Brady calling plays and a fresh target in DJ Moore, which should make him the prohibitive favorite every year. A big arm, smart, a guy who runs over people like Derrick Henry and competes with ferocity. A few more wrinkles in the offensive game plan courtesy of the new head coach could prove beneficial. Brandon will unleash Allen this year, and if James Cook stays healthy and the defense holds up, Allen could be unstoppable. Prediction: top two in the voting at worst.
The old man still has some gas left in the tank. The Rams came within a hair’s breadth of another Super Bowl last year. And, by the way, they added the best defensive player of the last decade in Myles Garrett. Even Aaron Donald is said to have raised an eyebrow—imagine that. The Rams don’t run the ball well enough to be the overwhelming favorite to win the Super Bowl, but who cares? Seattle didn’t throw it well enough last year. Stafford has been great throughout his career. One last ride could yield some personal hardware. Prediction: Top five in the voting.
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, December 25: Patrick Mahomes, #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs, steps back to pass during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on December 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images. Getty Images.
He’s a lock to win Comeback Player of the Year. He will have better SEO.