Drew Lock for NFL MVP? Second-year Broncos QB drawing surprisingly heavy betting action

With the start of the 2020 NFL regular season now less than three weeks away, betting action on futures odds is picking up at William Hill sportsbook. And there's quite a surprise on the NFL MVP prop as Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock is tied for most overall action via tickets sold at nine percent (along with Arizona's Kyler Murray) even though he's a long shot at +10000 on the moneyline odds.

Lock was the No. 42 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Broncos after a record-setting career at Missouri. He spent a large chunk of last season on injured reserve after suffering a thumb injury during a preseason game against the 49ers.

Denver was 3-8 when Lock was activated, and the offense had been atrocious under Joe Flacco and then Brandon Allen after Flacco was lost to a season-ending injury after Week 8. Lock got his first start in Week 13 vs. the Chargers and led a 23-20 victory. The Broncos would win four of five Lock's starts, although he didn't put up huge numbers. He finished completing 64.1 percent of his passes for 1,020 yards, seven TDs, three picks and a rating of 89.7. All reports out of training camp have been very good regarding Lock. 

GM John Elway was very aggressive this offseason in surrounding Lock with more offensive talent, signing former Chargers Pro Bowl running back Melvin Gordon in free agency and selecting Alabama receiver Jerry Jeudy in the first round of April's draft and Penn State's KJ Hamler in Round 2. Jeudy is among the betting favorites at William Hill for Offensive Rookie of the Year, priced +1600. Hamler, though, might miss the start of the season with a hamstring injury suffered this week.

"With all of the additions Denver made on offense this offseason, so many people think Lock will have a breakout year," said Nick Bogdanovich, Director of Trading for William Hill US.  "The Broncos are primarily a running team, so he will be hard-pressed to have gaudy-enough numbers to win MVP, but you just never know. Especially in 2020."

The last Broncos player to win NFL MVP was Peyton Manning when he won his record fifth and last in 2013. Elway won an MVP in 1987. No Missouri alum has won the award -- Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow is the most accomplished NFL player from the school. 

Denver is a 1.5-point home favorite for its season opener Sept. 14 (Monday) vs. Tennessee.

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