NFL.com’s Dan Hanzus Predicts Joey Bosa as Chargers Team MVP in 2018

On Wednesday morning, Dan Hanzus of NFL.com published his predictions for each team’s MVP of the 2018 season. Most selections were fairly obvious with the usual top quarterbacks (Rodgers, Brady, Brees) and workhorse running backs (Johnson, Gurley, Bell) leading the way for their teams.

When it came to the Chargers, Hanzus could have chosen from a trio of impactful skill players in quarterback Philip Rivers, running back Melvin Gordon, or wide receiver Keenan Allen. On the flip side of the ball, cornerback Casey Hayward and outside linebacker/defensive end Melvin Ingram would have both been stellar choices.

However, it was third-year defensive end Joey Bosa that got the nod for the team’s 2018 MVP.

Here is what Hanzus had to say about the young star:

“Bosa has been a star since the day he stepped foot on an NFL field, so expectations will be immense as he enters his third season. We’re squarely in “prime” territory now, and Bosa comes off a season in which he piled up 70 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, 21 QB hits and 12.5 sacks. That’s tremendous production, but you get the feeling he could be just scratching the surface. Having Melvin Ingram cause chaos on the other side is an embarrassment of riches in a league where elite pass rushers are in short supply. Bosa might be the best of the bunch.”

The selection should come as no surprise as Bosa was just recently rated the #37 player in the NFL by his peers, the highest of any player for the Chargers. In 2016, he joined an elite group as one of 11 players to record 10+ sacks in their rookie seasons in the last 15 years. Additionally, Bosa set the record for most sacks through a player’s first 20 career games with 19 when he sacked Tom Brady in their game against the Patriots last October.

Do you agree with Hanzus, or do you believe another Charger deserves that accolade? What are your own predictions? Let us know in the comments.