(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
After a little more than half of the 2023 NFL season, some legitimate candidates for each of the league’s top awards are beginning to emerge, including candidates for the illustrious NFL MVP award.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts seem to be the frontrunners for the award at this point in the season.
However, ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky made quite the statement on Monday when he shared that Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is his leader in the current MVP discussion (via Get Up on Twitter).
.@danorlovsky7 believes C.J. Stroud is LEADING the MVP race right now pic.twitter.com/eutXydVUWT
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) November 13, 2023
On Sunday, Stroud helped lead the Texans to an upset win over the Cincinnati Bengals by completing 59 percent of his passes for 356 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, in addition to running for another eight yards and a score.
Overall, this season, Houston’s rookie quarterback ranks second in the NFL in passing yards with 2,626 while also throwing 15 touchdowns and only two interceptions.
Stroud is easily the top candidate to win this year’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award, but Orlovsky clearly thinks he’s done enough so far this season to be in the MVP conversation as well.
Fellow ESPN analyst Teddi Bruschi was quick to offer a response, and he said Stroud’s team needs to have a better record than 5-4 in order for him to truly be considered a legitimate MVP candidate.
It’s an understandable response, but at the same time, Stroud is really one of the few quarterbacks this season who has actually stood out with an impressive performance week after week.
Could he defy the odds and actually win this year’s NFL MVP award?
The post Dan Orlovsky Has Surprising Leader For NFL MVP Race appeared first on The Cold Wire.