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Can the Highest-Paid NFL Quarterback Win the MVP?
The answer is NO. Almost at the end of the Regular Season, Dak Prescott isn’t available on MVP odds despite being the league’s passing-yards leader with 4,482 yards. Instead, MyBookie lists Matthew Stafford (-244) as the favorite to win MVP, followed by Drake Maye (+188) and Trevor Lawrence (+17000).
In financial terms, the Chargers’ quarterback earns approximately $40 million annually, around $20 million less than Prescott, yet salary alone has little impact on MVP voting. With that in mind, “all that glitters is not gold.”
The Most Productive Quarterbacks Don’t Always Win MVP
This 2025 Regular Season, according to NFL player stats, the most productive passers were Dak Prescott (4,482), Jared Goff (4,233), Drake Maye (4,203), Matthew Stafford (4,179), and Sam Darnold (3,850).
On the other hand, the most productive quarterback last season was Joe Burrow with 4,918 passing yards, despite the Bengals failing to reach the playoffs.
Another example is Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts. Neither appeared among the league’s passing-yard leaders, yet both reached Super Bowl 59. Mahomes finished with 3,928 passing yards, while Hurts recorded 2,903.
Josh Allen provides another strong example. He won the MVP despite throwing for 3,731 yards, while helping the Bills advance to the AFC Championship Game.
Why Team Success Matters More Than Salary
These examples highlight a recurring trend in MVP voting: team success often matters more than individual statistics or contract value. Bettors who regularly follow broader NFL betting markets understand that playoff positioning, team performance, and public perception usually influence MVP futures far more than raw passing numbers.
The same concept appears throughout futures betting. Evaluating the balance between established contenders and higher-priced alternatives can often reveal stronger betting opportunities. Understanding the differences between longshot NFL futures vs favorites helps explain why many bettors focus on team trajectory and market value instead of star-player narratives alone.
That principle also applies to rookie futures. Bettors searching for undervalued opportunities early in the season frequently study situations involving NFL rookies outperforming preseason expectations, where team context and expanding roles can reshape futures pricing before the market fully reacts.
These scenarios help answer a simple question: Could the highest-paid NFL quarterback win the MVP? Yes, but salary alone does not create MVP value. Team success remains the most important factor.
As a betting strategy, focus on the entire team rather than the quarterback’s paycheck. MVP futures are often driven by wins, playoff success, and narrative momentum more than individual earnings.
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June 26, 2025
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Drake "Drake Maye" Maye for MVP? pic.twitter.com/vSYeZPA1OT
— NFL GameDay (@NFLGameDay) December 28, 2025
MyBookie NFL Insights, Guide and Advice
Check out our useful information during the Season to do the best daily line pro football research!
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About the Author
Henry Watkins is a Sports Writer at MyBookie. Originally from Scotland and currently residing in Metro Atlanta with his wife Penny, Henry covers a range of topics, including competitive and professional sports as well as sports business. In addition to his sports writing, he is also an author of horror fiction, with works such as Karaoke Night, Crueller, and Off The Grid.
