As the NFL regular season enters its final week, the debate over the league's Most Valuable Player award is reaching a fever pitch. While the conversation typically centres on star quarterbacks, a powerful new voice has entered the fray, challenging the very definition of value on the football field.
Newton's Bold Defence of Defensive Dominance
Former league MVP Cam Newton has stirred the pot with a compelling argument. Appearing on ESPN's First Take, Newton stated that the MVP race is being viewed too narrowly. He believes a player's true worth isn't measured solely by touchdowns or team records, but by their ability to force opponents to completely reshape their game plan.
Newton pointed directly to Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett as the prime example. "You don't see people game-planning Drake Maye, respectfully, not even Matthew Stafford as much as they game-plan against Myles Garrett," Newton asserted. He made his stance clear, adding, "If we're talking about most valuable player, (Garrett) has shown that he is the most valuable player."
Garrett's Historic Season and the Quarterback Favourites
The statistics powerfully support Newton's claim. Myles Garrett has been a defensive force, amassing an impressive 22 sacks this season. He is now just half a sack away from tying the prestigious single-season record held by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt. At 30 years old and playing on a massive $160 million contract, Garrett is delivering elite performance, anchoring a Browns defence that keeps the team competitive every single week.
Newton even drew a legendary parallel to strengthen his case. "Who does Myles Garrett remind us of? (New York Giants legend) Lawrence Taylor. Taylor won the MVP in 1986 with 20.5 sacks," he noted. However, the modern reality of MVP voting heavily favours offensive players, especially quarterbacks.
This season has largely followed that script. The Los Angeles Rams' Matthew Stafford and the New England Patriots' Drake Maye have taken turns as the betting favourite. Maye's recent five-touchdown explosion against the New York Jets, coupled with the Patriots' 13-3 record and AFC East division title, has made him the current frontrunner. Sportsbooks now give Maye an estimated 80 percent chance to win the award, with odds around minus 400.
A Season of Value, Regardless of the Vote
Despite the uphill battle for a defensive player to win the MVP in today's NFL, Cam Newton's argument forces a crucial conversation about how value is perceived. It highlights the immense, game-warping impact a player like Myles Garrett has, which often doesn't fully translate to traditional stat sheets.
Whether or not Garrett ultimately receives the MVP trophy, his 2024 campaign has been undeniably historic. His pursuit of the sack record and his role as the centrepiece of the Browns' defence cement his status as one of the most dominant and valuable players in the entire league, just as Newton passionately declared.
