With the NFL season commencing, the MVP battle has already started. Naturally, all the players are trying hard to hit the bullseye, but there is only one winner. And to make the competition even harder, Trevor Lawrence has thrown his hat in the ring too!

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence has proved that he stands toe-to-toe with the best players in the NFL. The QB’s $275 million worth of contract extension says it all! Moreover, even former players have started to talk about the QB being the most valued player. In a video posted by ESPN NFL on their Instagram account, former Los Angeles Rams QB Dan Orlovsky shared his views on the player. The NFL player impressed analysts and fans with his preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons on August 24, completing 8 of 10 passes for 92 yards. And that’s not all! Apart from completing passes, he led the Jags to touchdowns on both of his drives.

The ESPN analyst said, “He threw it about as good as I’ve ever seen Trevor Lawrence throw it. If Trevor Lawrence throws it like this, he is going to be in the MVP conversation.” The video was from a recent episode of GetUp ESPN, where Orlovsky mentioned how Trevor Lawrence can help the Jags win the AFC South with his current version. He even emphasized how the player’s throws are near perfection and one of the best throws of his career. And interestingly, this is not the first time the Jags QB has been making waves for the MVP odds.

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Trevor Lawrence is in the mix for the MVP race. And to put it clearly, he is kind of a dark horse in a crowded gridiron. At present, he is tied with Kirk Cousins and Matthew Stafford for the 13th-best odds. Now that’s not a bad spot to be in!

If Trevor Lawrence is a top MVP pick, where does CJ Stroud fit in?

Orlovsky has given a thumbs up to Trevor Lawrence, but does that mean he has ditched CJ Stroud? Well, the ESPN analyst appeared on the First Take on August 26 and presented his elite quarterback ranking. And guess what? Among the 9 players mentioned on the list, the Houston Texans QB was the ninth one!

Undoubtedly, Stroud has had an impressive journey last year. With 319 pass completions, 23 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions in 4,108 yards, the QB is at the top of the game. And guess what? CJ Stroud sacked up such impressive stats in just 15 games. But that’s not where the player stopped. He is the first-ever rookie to lead the NFL in passing yards per game, with an average of 273.9 yards. And despite lacking experience, he became the youngest quarterback ever to guide a team to a playoff victory. Moreover, he has already been selected to play in the Pro Bowl!

So, where does Lawrence stand? Well, Lawrence has completed 1,116 passes, throwing 58 touchdowns, while also recording 39 interceptions. And there is a little surprise too! During an impressive college career at Clemson, the QB became a national champion and MVP. And to add to that, Lawrence was also named the ACC Athlete of the Year in 2021. In the NFL, he was selected for the Pro Bowl once, showing his development as a starting quarterback.

While Trevor Lawrence is a potential MVP pick, CJ Stroud is also an elite player. So comparing the two as of now doesn’t make much sense as there’s no clear winner!