Burrow picked for 2026 NFL MVP by league executives — SkimNews
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- Joe Burrow was picked for 2026 NFL MVP by league executives, narrowly beating Josh Allen and Justin Herbert despite durability concerns; his last full season (2024) produced 4,918 passing yards and 43 touchdowns.
- Jahmyr Gibbs was the Offensive Player of the Year pick, expected to ascend as Detroit's lead back after David Montgomery, following three straight Pro Bowls and 39 rushing touchdowns in his first three seasons.
- Will Anderson Jr. drew the Defensive Player of the Year prediction, with evaluators projecting a potential 15-sack season from the 25-year-old Texans edge rusher playing opposite Danielle Hunter.
- Patrick Mahomes was selected for Comeback Player of the Year after tearing his ACL and PCL, with scouts saying "he hears the noise" amid questions about his standing among elite quarterbacks.
- Jadarian Price, the 32nd overall pick out of Notre Dame, was the Offensive Rookie of the Year selection by the defending-champion Seahawks, while Caleb Downs drew the Defensive Rookie of the Year nod for Dallas, where coach Brian Schottenheimer plans to deploy him in the slot.
- Brian Schottenheimer was the surprise Coach of the Year pick for Dallas, while the Los Angeles Rams were called the "trendy Super Bowl pick" in league circles.
- The 2026 season opens Wednesday with the New England Patriots at the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), with Super Bowl LXI set for Feb. 14 at SoFi Stadium; the article notes that at this time last year, the Seahawks and Patriots had 60-1 and 80-1 Super Bowl odds, respectively.
Why it matters: These executive picks shape early-season MVP narratives and betting markets, and the article explicitly flags the Rams as the trendy Super Bowl favorite while noting the league's parity: last year the Seahawks and Patriots were 60-1 and 80-1 Super Bowl longshots. A Burrow MVP run would reshape how the Bengals' 2026 offseason moves are judged, while Mahomes's comeback pick signals the league still views Kansas City as a contender despite injury doubts.
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