Sadly, the NBA & NHL seasons are almost over. We no longer have games to bet on every single night. Thus I have begun to look into a few NFL Future bets as I prepare to dive into my prep for the 2024 NFL season. Throughout my early investigations of what some sports books are providing here are some of my favourite long-shot value plays for certain NFL Awards 3-months out from kickoff.
Note*: These are Not My Official NFL Award Picks & Odds Listed are what Bet365 is providing as of June 10th, 2024
MVP: Jordan Love (+1400)
If you haven't been able to tell by any of my posts mentioning him, I will make it clear, I am all aboard the Jordan Love hype train. By the end of the 2024 season, I expect the Packer's young quarterback to firmly establish himself as one of the top two quarterbacks in the NFC.
Love struggled through the first half of his first year as the full-time starter, but once he got settled, Love balled out and got the Packers from a 3-6 record mid-season to finishing the year 9-8 while securing the final playoff spot in the NFC. In the post-season, Green Bay became the first 7-seed in NFL history to win a playoff game with their dominant win over the Dallas Cowboys in the Wildcard round.
Because of his drastic improvement throughout the season, Love will be a trendy "sleeper" pick to win MVP, which some may see as him being "over-hyped" because of ten or so good games. However, we have seen the formula where a second-year starter who showed flashes in his first year in the NFL has taken the league by storm the following year to where they took home the award.
With a loaded roster, solid coaching, and a favourable schedule, I like Love at this number and think he will be in the conversation for the award late in the year if Green Bay lives up to expectations.
Offensive Rookie Of The Year: Brian Thomas Jr. (+2200)
Brian Thomas Jr. was not the best wide receiver going into the draft, heck he was not even top 3. Thomas was selected as the 4th wideout in the first round, where he was drafted 17th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
With the departure of Calvin Ridley, the Jags will hope Thomas can be the new deep threat for Trevor Lawrence, who is entering a make-or-break himself.
This draft class was one of the most talented classes I can remember, but a lot of the top prospects didn't enter as good situations as Thomas, aside from Marvin Harrison Jr., who will be paired up with Kyler Murray and perhaps Rome Odunze, the Bears ninth overall pick to go with first overall pick Caleb Williams.
With Lawrence as his QB, it would not be shocking if the LSU product was a finalist for the award, especially if he can be a key contributor to why the Jaguars return to the playoffs in 2024.
Offensive Player of the Year: Puka Nacua (+2500) & Jonathan Taylor (+2800)
Puka Nacua played the Cooper Kupp perfectly role in the Rams offence last year when number 10 was out for a majority of the year in 2023. As a fifth fifth-round rookie, Nacua set all kinds of rookie receiving records including the rookie receiving yards record.
If Kupp once again struggles to stay healthy and misses time, Nacua would slide once again into that number one role, which he could even do if Kupp is there if the Rams look to lower Kupp's snaps this year.
Kupp won the triple crown in 2021, and with McVay still calling the plays for Matt Stafford, could he help find a way to help Nacua fill up the stat sheet with another monster year in his sophomore year?
A healthy off-season with no drama or contract talks, 2024 should be a big comeback year for Jonathan Taylor as he looks to establish himself again as one of the premier backs in football.
With Shane Steichen at the helm on the sidelines and dual-threat QB Anthony Richardson back behind center, the Colts backfield will be as dangerous as any in the NFL in 2024. Richardson may not be asked as much to run with the ball due to the injury concerns the team may have with their franchise QB, who only stayed healthy enough to play four games in 2023, Taylor's number will be called a lot. With all distractions behind him and the franchise, expect the only twenty-five-year-old Taylor to return to the player he was throughout his last healthy season in 2021.
Coach of the Year: Mike Macdonald (+1600)
Let me first acknowledge something, you are truly psychotic if you are betting on Coach of the Year. However, in this piece, we are strictly looking for value with a realistic possibility of winning us money, that is what Mike Macdonald provides.
Aside from Jim Harbaugh, Macdonald was the most sought-after coach in the 2024 coaching cycle. The former Ravens defensive coordinator had multiple options of where he could lead a program, and he chose Seattle.
The Seahawks have enough talent to return to the post-season in 2024 after a disappointing 2023 where the team seemed to be tired of hearing Pete Carroll's voice tell the same stories over and over again. Because of the talent on the roster, unlike most teams who usually have job openings, the Seahawks are not a bad team. They have finished both seasons in the Geno Smith era 9-8, including a playoff appearance in 2022.
If Macdonald can help bring one of the worst defences in the league in 2023 to an above-average unit in 2024 which definitely is possible with players like Devon Witherspoon, Riq Woolen, and first-round pick Byron Murphy on that side of the ball. If the Hawks can also make a playoff run, Macdonald's first year in Seattle could end with him winning coach of the year.
Comments