Drew Lock could be the latest second-year QB to win MVP

Drew Lock is entering his second season with the Denver Broncos and there has been a trend of second-year quarterbacks winning MVP in recent years.

In some ways, the Denver Broncos needed this publicity or buzz surrounding their young quarterback Drew Lock. The Broncos have not had a quarterback inspiring this much hope since Peyton Manning.

Colin Cowherd started a media frenzy on Wednesday when he talked about second-year quarterbacks that could win the MVP award.

He’s been high on Lock and the Broncos all offseason, so Cowherd, of course, went on to say that he would bet on Lock winning (or simply being in the running for) the Most Valuable Award in year two. While it seems quite premature to make this claim there is a trend to what Cowherd is saying.

Patrick Mahomes won the MVP award in his second season in the NFL after starting just one game as a rookie, and in fact, started a media firestorm himself by quickly becoming the face of the NFL with his traits and quarterback acumen.

The league gravitated to Mahomes and his style of play. It seems the media or in this case, Cowherd, is doing the same with Lock.

Another example, of course, is Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens. Jackson came in a class with Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen, and Josh Rosen. Mayfield was the top pick in the draft in 2018. In 2019, Jackson took the NFL by storm with his play. The former Louisville Cardinal dazzled on the field with his arm and legs. Jackson became an MVP in his second year just like Mahomes after throwing for 3,000 yards and rushing for 1,000 yards.

Jackson’s case is intertwined with Lock due to one person. That person is Joe Flacco. Flacco is a Ravens quarterback legend in Baltimore. But Flacco’s story is relevant in all this due to his ending with the Ravens and Broncos. Flacco started nine games with the Ravens in 2018 with a record close to 4-5. Due to an injury sustained that season, Jackson took the reins and finished the season 6-1 as a starter leading Baltimore to the playoffs.

This ended Flacco’s time in Baltimore and sparked the MVP season for Jackson the next season. Flacco then ended up in Denver to be the starter. It was the same result as Baltimore. Flacco was injured eight games into the season. While the keys were not given to Lock right away it sealed the fate of inevitability. Brandon Allen replaced Flacco, but Lock took over in December and finished with a winning (4-1) record.

Not only were Mahomes and Jackson year two MVPs, but the Philadelphia Eagles had an MVP lock in Carson Wentz in 2017 (his second season in the NFL) before he went down with a season-ending injury. That makes three years in a row that a second-year quarterback has won the MVP or been a front-runner prior to injury.

This leaves us standing where we are at today. Lock’s winning record of 4-1 in December and infectious swagger in the locker room has given Denver hope. This is a hope they have not had since Peyton Manning left the building. The infectious swagger of Lock crept into the front office and John Elway with help from others created an off-season filled with certainly surrounding Lock with the best possible weapons on offense.

Whether it has been the addition of offensive guard Graham Glasgow, running back Melvin Gordon, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy or the speedy KJ Hamler, the Broncos have made Lock the primary focus of their off-season. If it is not clear to those that do not see it right now, Lock is the guy until further notice.

It is this optimism from the ending in December and the off-season in 2020 that can create a trend towards Lock becoming an MVP winner in his second season. While it seems absolutely crazy to think this can happen, think for a second of the trend of second-year players to win this award.

Mahomes, Wentz, and Jackson were given the keys to their respective offenses. The front offices in Kansas City, Philadelphia, and Baltimore quickly made their quarterback an offense that gave him the best chance to succeed right away in NFL. Wentz’s team won the Super Bowl in 2017. Mahomes won the MVP in 2018 and Super Bowl in 2019. Meanwhile, Jackson won the MVP in 2019.

In what seems highly unlikely might be a trend that continues. This time for Cowherd’s stance, he thinks it’s Drew Lock’s time to shine.