If there were any doubt that Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is the favorite to win the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award, that doubt was erased today.
The Associated Press has announced that Ryan is the first-team All-Pro quarterback. Given that the All-Pro team is selected by the same 50 voters who select the MVP, it seems highly likely that Ryan will win the MVP award as well.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott all have been named as MVP candidates as well, but the voters prefer Ryan, who got 29 All-Pro votes. Brady got 15, Rodgers five, Carr one and Prescott zero.
If the MVP goes to a non-quarterback it would likely be Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, although in today’s NFL it’s awfully tough for a non-quarterback to win the MVP. Quarterbacks have won the MVP award in eight of the last nine years.
The MVP will be announced on the night before the Super Bowl.