ARIZONA CARDINALS

Fox Sports: Palmer, Jones among 10 players who can win MVP

Aug 9, 2016, 11:00 AM

(Photos by: Adam Green)...

(Photos by: Adam Green)

(Photos by: Adam Green)

Just as a fine wine gets better with age, so does Carson Palmer.

The Arizona Cardinals quarterback is coming off the best statistical season of his career, throwing for a career-best 35 touchdowns and 4,671 yards. Palmer led the Cardinals to a franchise-record 13 wins and a berth in the NFC Championship Game. While Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton won the NFL MVP award in a landslide with 48 of 50 possible votes, Palmer received one of the two remaining votes.

Heading into 2016, Fox Sports’ Brett Pollakoff took a look at 10 players who are most likely to contend for the MVP award this season and the 36-year-old was a candidate.

The Cardinals are once again expected to be one of the NFC’s top teams this year, and Carson Palmer is more than capable of producing MVP-caliber numbers. Last season, he finished fourth in the league in passing years with 4,671, his quarterback rating of 104.6 was good for third, and his 35 TD passes tied him for the league’s second-best.

With the emergence of running back David Johnson and the returning cast of Arizona’s offensive weapons, it’s not inconceivable to predict a similar season from Palmer.

Pollakoff also listed another Cardinal to keep an eye on throughout the season as a potential dark horse in the MVP race.

We told you we’d include a long-shot or two, and (Chandler) Jones has the longest odds of the bunch. But he was on pace to record 19 sacks through his first nine games with the Patriots last season, and his Cardinals teammates believe he’s in prime position to get 20 or more with his new team this season. If that happens, and the Cardinals end up finishing near the top of the league-wide standings, it isn’t crazy to believe that Jones could become the first defensive player to win the NFL MVP since Lawrence Taylor did so 30 years ago.

Taylor’s path to the award in 1986 saw him amass 20.5 sacks and have six multi-sack games. With head coach Bruce Arians and assistant coach Tom Pratt emphasizing that they’ve never seen a defensive line as deep as these Cardinals, Jones could have a golden opportunity to reach those types of numbers.

Pollakoff’s list also included Newton, Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, Seattle’s Russell Wilson, Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson, Indianapolis’ Andrew Luck, Oakland’s Derek Carr, New England’s Tom Brady and Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger.

Arizona Cardinals

Chiefs Eagles...

Associated Press

Eagles deny the Chiefs a Super Bowl 3-peat with dominant defense in rout

The Chiefs didn't come close to completing their 3-peat, as the Eagles' dominant defense led Philadelphia to a rout and Super Bowl victory.

4 hours ago

Cooper DeJean...

Damon Allred

Eagles stun Chiefs with pick-6, shutout first half in Super Bowl

Cooper DeJean had more yards on his pick-six than Patrick Mahomes had to his own team as the Philadelphia Eagles blitzed the Kansas City Chiefs to a shutout first half.

6 hours ago

Aaron Rodgers...

Associated Press

Jets tell Aaron Rodgers they’re ‘moving on’ from the QB for next season, report says

Aaron Rodgers is still contemplating whether to continue his playing career. If he does, it appears it won’t be with the New York Jets.

8 hours ago

The Chiefs try to make history against the Eagles by winning a third consecutive Super Bowl, this t...

Associated Press

Chiefs aim to make history in city where they won their first Super Bowl

The Chiefs will try to make history against the Eagles by winning a third consecutive Super Bowl, this time in the same city where they won their first.

14 hours ago

The Philadelphia Eagles' offensive line could prove to be a pivotal factor in the outcome of Sunday...

Associated Press

Eagles’ Super Bowl path paved by prowess of their offensive line

The Philadelphia Eagles' offensive line could prove to be a pivotal factor in the outcome of Sunday's Super Bowl matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs.

16 hours ago

Tush push...

Associated Press

Chiefs think they have answer for Eagles’ tush push in Super Bowl

No team has taken advantage of the tush push the way the Eagles have, but the Chiefs think they have an answer for a play deemed unstoppable.

1 day ago

Fox Sports: Palmer, Jones among 10 players who can win MVP