Today, the most valuable player award in the NFL is typically given to a quarterback. Generally, it’s either the quarterback with the best record, best stats, or flashiest plays. For example, last year’s MVP, Josh Allen, quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, didn’t have the best quarterback stats in the league, but he did have one of the best records in the league, and he had numerous exciting plays. Although being an excellent passer, Jared Goff just doesn’t have the ability to make exciting plays like Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, and Josh Allen.
Over the last 10 years, the MVP award has shifted from the most valuable player to the most valuable quarterback, and now it’s the most flashy quarterback award. Being able to break sacks, juke defenders, and keep plays alive even when it seemed like it was over seconds ago makes a quarterback more likely to win the MVP award.
Jared Goff is an excellent quarterback, as in the last 3 years, Jared Goff is 1st in passing yards, 4th in passing yards per game, 1st in passing touchdowns, and 1st in wins. Clearly, he has been one of the best quarterbacks in the last few seasons, but his inability to make exciting runs and escape sacks or pressure conceals those stats when he’s in the conversation for the MVP award, because of the standards Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen have set.
Last year, Jared Goff finished 5th in MVP voting after leading the Lions to a 15-2 record, and concluded the season with 4,629 passing yards, 37 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, a 72.4% completion percentage, a passer rating of 111.8, and he started all 17 games. Although stats like this should win a player an MVP, he was overshadowed by quarterbacks like Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen, who all had very good passing stats, but also had incredible rushing stats. For example, last season Allen had 531 rushing yards on 102 carries and 12 rushing touchdowns. Goff had 35 carries for a grand total of 56 rushing yards and no touchdowns.
A large problem Goff has is his inconsistency. In one game, he can throw 5 interceptions, and in others, he can throw 5 touchdowns. He also throws a large number of interceptions when compared to Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow. Goff’s percentage completion can also fool you, as sometimes he does have amazing passes, but far too often, he misses open receivers. Goff also doesn’t throw a ton of long balls as much as Allen or Jackson do, as Goff seems to prioritize the shorter passes. While that style isn’t necessarily bad, it seems to dim the lights on Goff’s status in MVP conversations because of the new standards.
Unfortunately, I would say no, Jared Goff won’t win an MVP. While he is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, his style of play is outdated in today’s NFL. Goff did have one of his best seasons last year, but he did not play well in the divisional round against Washington as the number 1 seed in the NFC. Goff has always had trouble winning big games, as he has not won as many playoff games as other quarterbacks, and in the one Super Bowl he played in, he didn’t perform well.
