February is the best time of the year for NFL bettors. Free agency has yet to kick off, and, because of that, Vegas and offshore sportsbooks typically err on the side of caution. This means that, if you have enough foresight, you can make a fortune if you accurately bet the NFL MVP on NFL betting sites. As of right now, Jameis Winston and Tom Brady appear to be the two most likely candidates to start for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020. One of these players has good odds of winning MVP, and smart bettors should put some money on both players taking home the award.
Jameis Winston or Tom Brady Could Win 2020 NFL MVP Honors
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the perfect setup for an MVP quarterback. Winning MVP typically involves compiling stats, and nobody is in better position to do that than Tampa’s quarterback. The Buccaneers have what is probably the best wide receiver duo in the league in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Additionally, O.J. Howard has immense upside from the tight end position.
Winston and/or Brady have the necessary weapons to push the ball downfield, and they should be in position to do that on a frequent basis. Tampa Bay has one of the worst secondaries in football and shares a division with Matt Ryan and Drew Brees. This current Buccaneers organization has never shown an ability to build a defense, so there’s no reason to believe they’ll figure it out this year.
Both quarterbacks should throw the ball at a high rate and at a high level of efficiency. However, both players have separate individual traits that could push them over the top in 2020.
The Case for Jameis Winston
If Winston comes back, he’ll be in his second year in Bruce Arians’ system. Arians is one of the most aggressive playcallers in the league, and quarterbacks typically need a year or two to adjust to his style of coaching. In 2013, Carson Palmer started all 16 games for Arians’ Arizona Cardinals. During that season, the former first-overall pick completed 63.3% of his passes for 4,274 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions.
Palmer tore his ACL early in the 2014 season, but came back to have a fantastic 2015. Despite returning from a serious knee injury, Palmer led the Cardinals to a 13-3 record while completing 63.7% of his passes for 4,671 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He probably would have won MVP if it weren’t for Cam Newton’s magical season with Carolina.
Palmer might be the most dramatic example of improvement under Arians, but he’s far from the only case. If Winston is back under center, he should experience a similar increase in play level. Additionally, the former first-overall pick recently underwent surgery to improve his eyesight. There’s no way to know how this will actually affect his play on the field, but there’s no way improving eyesight could make his play worse.
The Case for Tom Brady
Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback to ever play the game, so he won’t need time to adjust to Arians’ system. The soon-to-be 43-year old might not be what he was, but he can still produce at an elite level if given a strong supporting cast. Last year, Brady spent the year throwing passes to the battered-up corpse of Julian Edelman and nobody else of note. Godwin and Evans represent a significant upgrade and should have Brady producing at a top-five level again.
Winning the MVP has just as much to do with narrative as it does with your on-field play. If Brady can leave Bill Belichick’s shadow, still play at an elite level, and bring Tampa to the playoffs for the first time in forever, he’s going to win MVP. You can’t write a better story than that, so it won’t really matter what the rest of the league does.
Both Brady and Winston have much higher chances of winning MVP than the odds currently suggest. Throw some money on these two while you still can.
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