Breaking down why Kyler Murray could be a quiet MVP candidate in 2025.

We are both far enough from the season and close enough to discuss reasonable and perhaps unreasonable projections for the 2025 season. One such thing would be potential MVP candidates.

Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon named five under-the-radar MVP candidates for the 2025 season.

One is Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.

We’re creeping deeper into long-shot territory here, but there’s no denying Kyler Murray’s talent. The Arizona Cardinals also continue to improve on paper, so this could well be their breakout season. 

If that’s the trajectory, and if Murray and centerpiece receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. can grow together as a battery in the latter’s sophomore campaign, the signal-caller could sneak into the MVP picture. 

Murray has had an up-and-down career but is still just 27. If he stays healthy, don’t be surprised if he finally becomes an elite quarterback for an exciting potential contender in 2025.

This isn’t a bad take.

We have seen Murray play at an MVP level over stretches. When did he play his best football? It was the first half of the 2021 season when the offense was good and the defense was very good, which was surprising.

The Cardinals had a solid offense last season and overhauled the defensive front seven this offseason. If that defense is even close to the level of the offense, then watch out for Murray to be great. And when Murray is great, the Cardinals win games.

Now, the truth is that MVPs come from teams who win a lot of games. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was the MVP last season, leading the Bills to 13 wins. Cards Wire’s Howard Balzer wrote that, before last season, the average number of wins for an MVP’s team was 13 wins over the previous 20 years.

If the Cardinals win 11 or more games, it means Murray is great. And if Murray is great, combined with those wins, he could be a real MVP candidate.

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