4 players that could be the Miami Dolphins 2021 MVP

The Miami Dolphins are hoping that the 2021 season will bring them a playoff birth but if that is to happen, a lot has to go right.

Last year, there was no question who the team’s MVP was. Xavien Howard should have been more in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year conversation but he was more of an afterthought. This year, if he remains with the Dolphins, Dan Hanzus of NFL.com believes he will be the MVP again in 2021.

Howard indeed has the best chance to be the team’s leader but that is really dependent on whether or not he remains with the team. After winning the Dan Marino MVP award last year, Howard joined an elite group of players that have won it more than once. Can he make it three?

Here are three other players that could take the MVP for this year.

Byron Jones: Jones had a good season that largely went unrecognized because of Howard’s play but we can’t summarily dismiss his contributions to the defense. At times, Jones was the lockdown corner that Miami had hoped for. He should be better in 2021 having a full off-season to learn the Brian Flores system. If he plays well, and there is no reason to think that he won’t, he could easily be considered a candidate at the end of the year.

Tua Tagovailoa: If this happens, the Dolphins fan base will be overjoyed and we can put the naysayers and doubters on the curb. Tagovailoa has spent the last year listening to everyone saying that he can’t be “the” guy in Miami. The media have pretty much had a field day with their criticism but regardless, Tagovailao has to prove them wrong. Winning the team’s MVP this year would certainly do that.

Jerome Baker: Baker got a new contract and has been playing very well as he has improved each season with the Dolphins. Now, the veteran defensive leader will need to show the Dolphins that his big contract was worth it. There is no doubt that Baker will come to play. He loves the game and seems to be doing well in this system. He could easily emerge as an MVP candidate in 2021.