Ranking top 5 sleeper MVP candidates for 2024 NFL season ft. Russell Wilson

When the 2024 NFL season begins, every player, from Russell Wilson to Zach Wilson, will be secretly hoping that they can be crowned the MVP and complete a redemptive arc that we will tell our future generations one day. However, if someone has to snatch the crown away from Lamar Jackson, they will have to be head and shoulders above the rest.

There are the usual favorites like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Joe Burrow, who will be in contention for the 2024 NFL MVP award. But here are five players, all quarterbacks because of the way it has been given out in recent seasons, who could sneak under the radar.

2024 NFL MVP Candidates: the Dark Horse

#5 - Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears

The last time a rookie won the NFL MVP award, the winner was Jim Brown of the Cleveland Browns in 1957. Nobody before or since has replicated that. But Caleb Williams could be one to add his name to that very exclusive list. He is a generational talent who was taken with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

And the Chicago Bears have surrounded him with offensive talent. They have recruited Keenan Allen and retained D.J. Moore. They also drafted Rome Odunze, widely considered to be another generational player in the wide receiver position. Cole Kmet is a solid tight end who will add to Caleb Williams' production.

That's four players who are each capable of reaching 1,000 yards receiving on their own. If Matt Eberflus and his coaching team can utilize him well, the rookie quarterback can really burst onto the scene and take home the MVP award.

#4 - C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans

C.J. Stroud was the rookie of the year last season and led the Texans to the Divisional Round of the playoffs. He did so throwing more than 4,000 yards, 23 touchdowns, and just five interceptions.

In the offseason, they added Stefon Diggs to the mix and if he can replicate his Buffalo form, he can add another 1,000 yards or more to his quarterback's kitty. Assuming there is no regression, there is no reason to rule out C.J. Stroud as a favorite for the 2024 NFL MVP award.

#3 - Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers

The Packers were the surprise package last season. They have a wily offensive coach in Matt LaFleur and a young receiving corps where everyone contributes. Jordan Love, in his first year as the starter, threw more than 4,000 yards and 32 touchdowns.

But it was his growth in the second half of the season that really stood out. In his last eight regular-season games, he threw 18 touchdowns and one interception. He had a perfect passer rating for most of the Wild Card round win against the Dallas Cowboys.

Whisper it, but these are Aaron Rodgers-like numbers and the future Hall-of-Fame player has four MVP titles under his belt. So, there is no reason to suspect why Jordan Love cannot get one this season.

#2 - Russell Wilson, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers

When the Denver Broncos acquired Russell Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks, it was supposed to make them immediate contenders. We all know that it did not work out that way and his stock has fallen significantly. People have even said that his Super Bowl win came solely because of his defense and he is a mediocre quarterback.

But an average player does not make it to nine Pro Bowls. Nor does he lead the passer rating in the league as he did in 2015 or throw the most touchdowns as he did in 2017. Russell Wilson remains a very good footballer. Perhaps, he never found a system that suited him in Denver. Nathaniel Hackett was brought in for a possible Aaron Rodgers trade. And Sean Payton never believed in him.

Now, he has a head coach in Mike Tomlin who believes in him and plays old-school football with a focus on running and defense that can bring back the Russ of the old. And if the quarterback rediscovers his Seahawks form, he can certainly win the MVP.

#1 - Kirk Cousins, QB, Atlanta Falcons

Kirk Cousins was in rare form last season with the Minnesota Vikings. He played just eight games before an Achilles injury ended his season prematurely. But in that period, he had 2,331 yards, 18 touchdowns, and five interceptions with a passer rating of 103.8.

If he had played at the same level throughout the year, he would have ended up with nearly 5,000 yards and 40 touchdowns. Those are MVP numbers.

That is presumably why the Falcons persuaded him to come to Atlanta. And then they drafted his replacement Michael Penix Jr. through the draft. Anybody who has seen Aaron Rodgers win two MVP awards after the Packers drafted Jordan Love knows what a powerful motivation that could be.

He has a solid supporting cast too and a star running back in Bijan Robinson. Add in a weak NFC South and Kirk Cousins could very well win the award that he could have done last year barring his injury.