Ravens QB Lamar Jackson opens as one of 2022 MVP frontrunners

Will this be the year Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson gets “figured out?” Oddsmakers certainly don’t think so.

Although Jackson is coming off a career-worst 2021 campaign that saw him throw 16 touchdowns against 13 interceptions in 12 games, his reputation as one of the league’s best quarterbacks remains intact.

BetSided’s Peter Dewey listed the opening NFL MVP odds for 2022 which were anything but surprising. Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes stood as the favorites at +600 and +700 odds respectively, followed by 2021 MVP winner Aaron Rodgers at +800.

But Ravens’ own Lamar Jackson cracked the top-ten with the sixth-best odds to win MVP at +1,800. Jackson is tied with Matthew Stafford, Dak Prescott, and Kyler Murray, despite the latter’s offseason rift with the Cardinals.

Two other members of the flock landed on the odds list, albeit very, very far down. Running back J.K Dobbins has +20,000 odds to win MVP and Marquise Brown has +30,000 odds.

We’re a little miffed that Mark Andrews wasn’t included despite his peers, Travis Kelce and George Kittle, to name a few, making the list.

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has +1,800 odds to win 2022 MVP

Jackson won the MVP award three years ago, and with improved offensive reinforcements for 2022, he could make another big splash in the league as a potential top-five quarterback.

Jackson’s quarterback play last season didn’t come close to that of Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, or the other heavy gunslingers in the AFC, but the 2022 season has all the marks of a fresh start for the Ravens faithful.

Baltimore will look to upgrade its offensive and defensive lines in free agency and in the draft, and Jackson will hopefully be cured of “Patrick Mahomes syndrome” by the start of the season.

Long touted as “just a running back,” Jackson will need to establish consistency in the Ravens’ passing offense that has notoriously dragged the team down in recent history.

In part due to injuries in the running back room, Baltimore became more proficient in the air in 2021, averaging 233 passing yards per game compared to 172 yards per game in 2020.

With J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards returning to the field, the Ravens must avoid the easy way out of relying once more on their rushing attack.

Jackson’s task this upcoming season will involve maximizing the efficiency of both the rushing and passing offense, which hinges on how much the Ravens boost their offensive line.

Give Lamar Jackson the necessary tools for a successful season, and he can lead Baltimore to glory in 2022.