The Baltimore Ravens are betting a lot on second-year quarterback Lamar Jackson this season. Now, you too can bet on Jackson as Westgate Las Vegas has released their updated odds for the 2019 NFL MVP award. Jackson himself with 100/1 odds, which actually isn’t that terrible when you look at the other players with similar odds.
Surprisingly, Jackson had the exact same odds as some of the biggest defensive stars in the league. Chicago Bears pass rusher Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller and Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt are all at 100/1 odds to win the MVP award as well. Then again, linebacker Lawrence Taylor is the last defensive player to win the award, all the way back in 1986, so that might say quite a bit about where Jackson’s odds actually lay.
Since 2000, a quarterback has won the award 16 times while running backs have won it the other four times. When looking at Westgate’s odds, Jackson actually finds himself near the bottom of the barrel for quarterbacks.
| Rank | Quarterback | Odds |
| 1 | Patrick Mahomes | 4/1 |
| 2 | Aaron Rodgers | 8/1 |
| 2 | Andrew Luck | 8/1 |
| 4 | Carson Wentz | 10/1 |
| 4 | Drew Brees | 10/1 |
| 6 | Tom Brady | 12/1 |
| 7 | Philip Rivers | 14/1 |
| 7 | Russell Wilson | 14/1 |
| 9 | Ben Roethlisberger | 25/1 |
| 9 | Matt Ryan | 25/1 |
| 9 | Baker Mayfield | 25/1 |
| 12 | Jared Goff | 60/1 |
| 12 | Cam Newton | 60/1 |
| 12 | Deshaun Watson | 60/1 |
| 15 | Matthew Stafford | 80/1 |
| 15 | Jimmy Garoppolo | 80/1 |
| 15 | Kirk Cousins | 80/1 |
| 18 | Lamar Jackson | 100/1 |
Among QBs, Jackson is tied with Arizona Cardinals rookie Kyler Murray, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Jameis Winston, the Tennessee Titans’ Marcus Mariota, the Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott and the New York Jets’ Sam Darnold. Not exactly a who’s-who of quarterbacks. It puts Jackson tied at No. 18 among the league’s 32 starting quarterbacks.
But many are sleeping on Jackson at this point. Though Jackson had an impressive rookie season that saw him break records with his legs, he wasn’t the most consistent or accurate quarterback last year. But he’s spent the offseason focusing on his mechanics, and the Ravens have surrounded him with intriguing, young weapons.
Though it’s a stretch to put Jackson in the same category as players like Drew Brees and Tom Brady, Jackson has abilities with his legs that few other quarterbacks have. He could put up significantly more total yards than last year and find himself in the running.
