Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels isn't the NFL MVP favorite yet, but he's getting closer

The only time a rookie has won the NFL MVP title was in 1957. The winner was Jim Brown, arguably the greatest player in history.

Last season, Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud was the rare rookie in contention. He was fading and it seemed like it would be a long time before a rookie made another splash in the MVP race.

Then came Jayden Daniels.

For the second year in a row, a rookie is making a case to be included on the MVP list. It's still very early in the season, but Daniels ticks all the boxes for the award. The Washington Commanders (4-1) are atop the NFC East thanks to a surprisingly efficient offense led by their powerful rookie quarterback.

Daniels has been better than anyone could have realistically expected, and the MVP odds at BetMGM have shifted dramatically to reflect his hot start.

Jayden Daniels' rise boosts NFL MVP odds

After another big game from Daniels in Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns, he's officially an MVP candidate – judging by the odds.

As of Monday morning, only four players had a better chance of winning the MVP than Daniels, who is 10-1. Here are the top 5:

• Patrick Mahomes: +300

• Josh Allen: +600

• Lamar Jackson: +650

• CJ Stroud: +700

• Jayden Daniels: +1000

That puts Daniels ahead of all non-quarterbacks and many productive veteran QBs like Joe Burrow, Brock Purdy, Jared Goff and Dak Prescott.

And as Daniels shined on the court, his MVP odds at BetMGM have changed massively even in the last few weeks:

• Opening odds: 200 to 1

• Before week 4: 100 to 1

• Before week 5: 30 to 1

• After week 5: 10 to 1

While it seems hard to believe that a rookie can maintain an MVP pace all season long – and that the Commanders can continue to win at a rate that would push Daniels further up the MVP conversation – it's not so anyone can make a much better argument at this early stage of the season.

Daniels is building an MVP case

Mahomes' Kansas City Chiefs are 4-0, but statistically he's had a fairly average start to the season, especially by his standards. Allen completed just 9 of 30 passes in a Week 5 loss. Jackson was good once again, but Derrick Henry was an even bigger part of the offense in some recent wins. Stroud has a great argument, but Daniels has a better passer rating (106.3 to 98.2), completion percentage (77.1% to 68.9%) and yards per attempt (8.7 to 7.8). And Daniels is off to a historic fast start for a quarterback with 300 yards in five games.

And the Commanders' offense went from one of the 10 worst in the NFL last season to a pace that rivals some of the best offenses in recent NFL history. Other than the addition of an instant superstar at quarterback, there weren't much improvements in the supporting cast compared to the offseason.

It's still very early. It would take a near-perfect season for a rookie to win NFL MVP, and Daniels likely won't achieve that. It also seems unlikely that the Commanders will continue their remarkable pace offensively, especially when they face some of the tougher opponents on their schedule.

But the MVP odds tell a story. Not only is Daniels a clear favorite for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, he is also in the conversation for the NFL's highest individual award.