Not every NFL team is still in the hunt for a playoff berth, but every franchise has one guy who deserves to be called their season’s MVP.
After 11 weeks of the NFL campaign we have a really good idea of where each team stands. Quite a few teams still have a legitimate shot to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, but there are plenty of teams who should already be focusing on the 2019 NFL Draft as well.
Every team has at least one player who deserves some special praise for the way he’s played this season. Even the Raiders have an MVP. Admittedly it was a little more difficult to find a player worthy of praise on Jon Gruden’s roster, but that’s just the nature of professional football.
We start our journey through each team’s MVP with a devastating defender in the desert.
Arizona Cardinals-Chandler Jones
Sentimental fans might want to see Larry Fitzgerald’s name here, but Jones has absolutely been Arizona’s best player on the season. The franchise may have missed a golden opportunity to trade him this season. Defensive ends with 10.5 sacks n just 11 weeks of action are always in high demand.
Unfortunately, Jones’ play hasn’t been enough to keep the Cardinals competitive this season. They are a serious contender for the No. 1 overall pick in next April’s draft. Credit the team for biting the bullet and giving Josh Rosen meaningful reps this season, but it hasn’t helped the team’s record.
In many ways, it’s a shame that Jones is toiling in relative anonymity. He’s one of the most productive edge rushers in the league and no one seems to be taking notice at the moment.