NFL: Ranking the Super Bowl MVP odds for the top candidates

The Super Bowl LX matchup is all set. Quarterbacks have claimed seven of the last ten MVP awards, making the signal-callers the obvious favorites in this game between Seattle and New England. However, with dynamic playmakers on both sidelines, the door is open for a skill position player to steal the spotlight. Here are the top candidates to win Super Bowl MVP, ranked from long shots to the favorites, as per CBS Sports.

8) Stefon Diggs (WR, New England Patriots)

Stat line: +6000 odds​
Diggs enters the Super Bowl as a veteran presence capable of breaking a game open with savvy route running. While he sits as a massive longshot, his history of big-game performances keeps him on the radar for bettors looking for a high-reward play. He needs a multi-touchdown performance to have a real shot at the hardware.​

7) Marcus Jones (CB/RS, New England Patriots)

Stat line: +5500 odds​
Jones is the ultimate wildcard in this field, offering value because he contributes in multiple phases of the game. As the only defensive player listed among the top contenders, his path to MVP likely involves a splash play on special teams or a game-changing interception. Von Miller was the last defender to win it, showing it takes a dominant showing to break through.​

6) Rashid Shaheed (WR/RS, Seattle Seahawks)

Stat line: +2800 odds​
Known for his electric speed, Shaheed is the type of player who can rack up yardage in chunks, which is exactly what MVP voters love to see. He sits in the middle tier of candidates, needing a signature deep ball or a special teams spark to separate himself from the pack. At +2800, oddsmakers see him as a dangerous but unlikely option.​

5) Rhamondre Stevenson (RB, New England Patriots)

Stat line: +2500 odds​
Stevenson brings a physical running style that could define the game if New England controls the tempo on the ground. No running back has won Super Bowl MVP since Terrell Davis in 1998, putting history against him. However, if the Patriots win a low-scoring, grind-it-out affair, Stevenson is the most logical beneficiary.​

4) Kenneth Walker III (RB, Seattle Seahawks)

Stat line: +600 odds​
Walker sits right on the fringe of the favorites, offering the explosive potential to turn the game on a single carry. Like Stevenson, he is fighting the historical bias against running backs, but his odds suggest a much higher probability of taking over the game. If Seattle wins comfortably on the ground, Walker is the guy.​

3) Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR, Seattle Seahawks)

Stat line: +550 odds​
As the top projected target in the passing game outside of the quarterbacks, Smith-Njigba has a realistic path to the trophy. Recent history favors receivers: Cooper Kupp and Julian Edelman both won it within the last decade. If Darnold throws for 300 yards, a large chunk will likely go to JSN.​

2) Drake Maye (QB, New England Patriots)

Stat line: +235 odds​
Maye enters his first Super Bowl as the underdog signal-caller, but his dual-threat ability gives him a unique edge. His rushing prowess was key in the AFC Championship, and a similar performance on the biggest stage could sway voters his way. If the Patriots pull off the upset, the award is almost certainly his.​

1) Sam Darnold (QB, Seattle Seahawks)

Stat line: +130 odds​
The narrative and the numbers all point to Darnold, who opens as the clear favorite to take home the hardware. Coming off a 346-yard, three-touchdown masterpiece in the conference title game, he is playing the best football of his career at the perfect time. If Seattle wins, it will likely be because Darnold carved up the defense.​

The verdict

History says to bet the quarterback, and the odds reflect that reality with Darnold and Maye leading the pack. But with dynamic runners and receivers lurking, this year’s MVP race feels wider open than the lines suggest.

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