There are plenty of Chicago Bears fans that were scratching their heads after the team signed quarterback Jay Cutler to a seven-year contract extension in January, but according to oddsmakers that follow football, that money may be currency well-spent.
That’s because Bovada has Cutler pegged as having the sixth-best odds of winning the 2014 NFL MVP award according to their preseason rankings, with a 20/1 chance of winning the hardware.
Peyton Manning, quarterback for the defending AFC champion Denver Broncos, is the favorite at 3/1 odds, with Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints (11/2) and Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers (15/2) trailing him. Tom Brady (9/1) and Andrew Luck (16/1) round out the top five.
The odds may be in Cutler’s favor a bit because of the myriad of offensive weapons he has. Not only does he have arguably the league’s best receiving tandem in Brandon Marshall (who Bovada gives 66/1 odds of winning MVP honors) and Alshon Jeffery, but he also has tight end Martellus Bennett and running back duo Matt Forte (also 66/1) and rookie Ka’Deem Carey supporting him.
The Bears will report to training camp in Bourbonnais on July 24, and their first preseason game will take place on August 8 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
