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Fade Kyler Murray's MVP Odds Amidst Offensive Shake-Up

By Donnavan Smoot

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray. / Ronald Martinez/GettyImages
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I’ve written several pieces this offseason saying, “Stay Away From Player X in the MVP Market.” While I believe every word I’ve written, I understand that things may go in a different direction. I don’t think I’ll be wrong. However, I see the vision. 

That’s not the case here. I don’t see a way that Kyler Murray ends up as the league MVP this year. So once again, stay away from his MVP futures. 

Murray is +1800 to win MVP, which puts him above Lamar Jackson and Matt Ryan. Those odds are ridiculous, especially considering that he and the team are at odds right now because of his contract. 

Aside from all the contractual distractions, Murray is going to be playing with players that are either new to the Cardinals or past their primes. Last year, his top two receivers – in terms of yards per game – were Christian Kirk and Deandre Hopkins. Kirk is now in Jacksonville and Hopkins will be suspended for the first six games of the season. That leaves Murray with 33-year old A.J. Green, 31-year-old Zach Ertz and newly integrated Hollywood Brown. 

This means that two of his top three receivers didn’t even finish with 900 yards last season. The Cardinals even lost Chase Edmonds out of the backfield this offseason – leaving their backfield in the hands of James Connor full-time.

On top of all the shuffling that’s gone on with the offensive weapons, the Cardinals may not be good enough to make the playoffs – which will instantly disqualify Murray from any MVP talk. Currently, WynnBET is giving the Cardinals the eighth-best odds (+1500)  to win the NFC. Even with an expanded playoff field, the Cardinals would miss the playoffs. 

If the Cardinals aren’t a top two seed in what’s considered the “weaker conference,” or miss the playoffs all together, there is no way Murray gets the MVP. Even with a good start this year, be weary. We’ve seen for the last several year that the Cardinals that start the season, aren’t the Cardinals that end the season. 

You can find Donnavan Smoot’s full betting record here.

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