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5 NFL MVP candidates who aren’t quarterbacks

By Kelly Thompson

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 01: Defensive tackle Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams pressures quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 01, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 01: Defensive tackle Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams pressures quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 01, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Derrick Henry, Tennesse Titans
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 01: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /

Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans

A lot of great names on this list – but no better non-quarterback candidate exists for MVP than Henry.

First and foremost, the Wild Card and Divisional rounds of the playoffs put Henry on a plane of rushers the likes of which the NFL has rarely seen. Those two games saw Henry amass 377 rushing yards.

But we also should not pretend that Henry only showed up for the playoffs. The 2019 season was truly a breakout one for the former Alabama punisher, as he topped 1,500 yards and rushed for 16 touchdowns on the campaign. If Tennessee had been better in the regular season, rather than squeaking into the playoffs as a Wild Card team, he may have been the Offensive Player of the Year a season ago.

If Tennessee takes the next step forward, dominates the AFC South and cruises back into the playoffs; and, if Henry has a similar, or even better 2020; then, the former second-round pick could easily buck the trend of MVP’s only going to quarterbacks, and earn the award back for the running backs this year.

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