As the countdown to Sunday’s Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks continues, the MVP conversation is heating up - and it’s coming down to two quarterbacks who took very different roads to get here: rookie sensation Drake Maye and seasoned veteran Matthew Stafford.
ESPN analyst Ryan Clark weighed in on First Take this week, and while he gave Maye his due, he believes the MVP hardware is headed to Los Angeles.
Stafford’s MVP Case: A Story 17 Years in the Making
Clark pointed to the power of narrative in MVP voting - and let’s be honest, the story around Matthew Stafford this season is compelling. At 37 years old, he’s not just playing well - he’s playing some of the best football of his career. After signing a two-year, $84 million extension in May 2025, Stafford delivered a regular season for the books: 4,707 passing yards, 46 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions, leading the Rams to a 12-5 record.
Clark compared Stafford’s late-career excellence to the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady - quarterbacks who didn’t just age gracefully, but dominated well into their 30s. That kind of sustained success, especially at the quarterback position, is rare. And in a league that often rewards the best story as much as the best stats, Stafford checks both boxes.
Drake Maye: The Rookie Who Changed Everything in Foxborough
Now, while Clark sees Stafford as the frontrunner, he didn’t hold back on what Drake Maye has meant to New England. The rookie led the Patriots to a 14-3 record and a Super Bowl berth - no small feat in a league that eats young quarterbacks alive. He threw for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, showing poise and leadership beyond his years.
Clark made a strong point about Maye’s value - not just his numbers. He emphasized that Maye has done more with less.
The Patriots’ offense isn’t stacked with elite weapons the way the Rams’ unit is. Stafford has the luxury of throwing to stars like Davante Adams, especially in red zone packages built to maximize those matchups.
Maye, meanwhile, has had to elevate the talent around him and carry more of the load.
“When I think about value to the team,” Clark said, “Drake Maye's value to the team to me is higher because offensively, his team isn't as skilled.”
That’s the kind of insight that gets to the heart of the MVP debate. It’s not just about the numbers - it’s about how those numbers were earned, and what they meant to the team’s success.
What the Odds Say
Still, when it comes to the MVP race, value to the team doesn’t always tip the scales. As of now, Stafford is the heavy betting favorite at -450, while Maye sits at +350. That suggests voters are leaning toward the veteran - not necessarily because Maye isn’t worthy, but because Stafford’s season, in context, is just too hard to ignore.
And that’s the challenge with MVP voting in the NFL. It’s not always about who means more to their team - it’s often about who put together the most impressive combination of stats, wins, and storylines.
Bottom Line
Both quarterbacks have had incredible seasons. Stafford is rewriting the late-career quarterback playbook, while Maye is redefining what’s possible for a rookie under center. Whether the MVP trophy ends up in Los Angeles or Foxborough, this season has given us two masterclasses in quarterback play - one from a grizzled vet proving he’s still got it, and one from a rookie who just might be the future of the league.
And come Sunday, they’ll both have a shot at the prize that matters most.