Vikings WR Justin Jefferson's path to MVP award clearer than ever in 2024

The National Football League's Most Valuable Player award has been a quarterback-only award for the better part of the last 20-plus years. Since 2000, only four non-quarterbacks have won the award.

• 2000: RB Marshall Faulk
• 2005: RB Shaun Alexander
• 2006: RB LaDanian Tomlinson
• 2012: RB Adrian Peterson

In the history of the Associated Press MVP award, a wide receiver has never won it. DT Alan Page won the award in 1971, kicker Mark Mosely in a strike-shortened 1982, and edge rusher Lawrence Taylor in 1986 are the only players who didn't play quarterback or running back to win the award.

However, wide receiver Jerry Rice did win the 1987 PFWA and Sporting News MVP awards, but it wasn't the one that we know today.

Justin Jefferson in prime position to win MVP award

Even though no wide receiver has ever won the MVP award, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson was a finalist in 2022. He finished fifth in the voting along with winning the AP Offensive Player of the Year and being a first-team All-Pro.

Going into 2024, Jefferson is in a great place to be the first wide receiver to win the award potentially. Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon named Jefferson a dark horse to win the award at +12000.

I'm imagining a scenario in which the NFL's most talented receiver simply explodes in his prime, possibly at a record-setting tune. And if that happens with Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy splitting up time at quarterback, this far-fetched scenario could lead to a wide receiver winning the MVP award for the first time.

The idea of a wide receiver winning the award would mean that the quarterback doesn't have cache in the NFL, gets replaced midseason, doesn't matter because the receiver produces regardless or all three combined. With the Vikings set to start Darnold at quarterback with McCarthy waiting in the wings, that would line up perfectly for a run at the award.

What would it take for Jefferson to win the award? Well, the other candidates need to have downyears for what an MVP usually puts up. Plus, Jefferson needs borderline historic numbers. A 2,000-yard season with inconsistent quarterback play would be just the ticket to make it a conversation.

Now, the analytical discussion will drive the award toward who the best quarterback is. That is a hurdle Jefferson would have to surpass. With a historic season, it's not just possible, but plausible.

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