Coming off a Super Bowl-winning season, the Philadelphia Eagles are expected to be right back in championship contention. As a team, the Eagles are recognized as one of the strongest across the board. But do they have an individual on the roster who is a potential MVP candidate for next year?
Recently, Bleacher Report laid out a handful of potential MVP candidates who have crept into “sleeper” territory, based on the odds being laid out by sportsbooks early on in the offseason.
With five players listed, the Eagles have two on the board. To no surprise, the candidates are the quarterback Jalen Hurts and the running back Saquon Barkley, who happens to be the only non-passer on the list.
“Jalen Hurts’ fantastic supporting cast probably cost him MVP consideration in 2024, and that’s a shame because the uniquely talented star was the NFL‘s fifth-highest-rated passer while producing a combined 32 touchdowns. The problem is only 18 of those came through the air, and the tush push doesn’t win over too many voters,” BR’s Brad Gagnon writes.
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Hurts is no stranger to the MVP conversation. During the 2022 season, when the Eagles made it to the Super Bowl for the first time with Hurts under center, the quarterback spent many weeks favored to take the award home. Unfortunately, a late-season injury caused him to miss some time, and he lost out.
The narrative surrounding Hurts isn’t always super positive. Between the tush-push generating so much controversy and the star power surrounding Hurts offering him a ton of help, the Eagles’ strong roster-building tends to play against Hurts, causing him to carry the “system QB” label often.
Speaking of star power that helped push Hurts and the Eagles forward last season, Saquon Barkley could be in the running for MVP for the second season in a row.
“If Barkley can take it another step and actually take down Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing-yardage record this year, the 28-year-old could become the first MVP at his position since Adrian Peterson in 2012,” Gagnon wrote.
It’s hard to argue the idea that MVP is for quarterbacks to lose. Over the past 12 seasons, a quarterback has taken home the award. To no surprise, quarterbacks are currently favored to make it 13 in a row.
Barkley shouldn’t be doubted, though. His first season in the midnight green was remarkable. In 16 games, he rushed for over 2,000 yards, averaging a career-high 5.8 yards per carry. Barkley had 15 total touchdowns in the regular season and added five more in the playoffs.
The Eagles always had a knack for building a strong offensive line, resulting in giving even an average running back a chance to shine more often than not. Once a proven star running back like Barkley got behind the line, records were broken. It would have to take a major step back in order for Barkley not to be on MVP watch throughout his second season in Philadelphia.