Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has a big-time piece of hardware still missing from his career, and that's the coveted NFL MVP award.
A group of league executives and scouts surveyed by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler believes this could be the year he gets it.
ESPN named Burrow its predicted MVP after he edged Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Burrow remains the only quarterback among Patrick Mahomes, Allen, Lamar Jackson and himself to be featured as an ESPN preseason MVP pick in recent years without actually winning the award.
An AFC executive pointed to Burrow's mindset entering the season.
“He senses the urgency this year and is talking like it — I think he's ready to back it up,” the executive
said. “If he stays healthy. Big if.”
That caveat continues to follow Burrow after injuries limited him to eight games last season. But his most recent full campaign showed why league evaluators remain bullish, as he threw for 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns in 2024.
Cincinnati could also give Burrow a different offensive structure this season. ESPN noted the Bengals plan to operate more from under center, a change that could help a running game that ranked 29th last year.
As for Offensive Player of the Year, Ja'Marr Chase, Burrow's favorite target, received votes to give Cincinnati representation in two major award races.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: NFL executives pick Bengals QB Joe Burrow to win significant award
