2017 Detroit Lions predictions: Who will be the offensive MVP?

The countdown to the 2017 Detroit Lions season is on, and we’re down to just single days until the Arizona Cardinals come to town.

As always, I like to tap our entire staff for preseason predictions before the year starts. In part, this is fun exercise to see where expectations are in September, but it’s also a good excuse to look back on this four months from now and see how little we know.

Anyways, our series kicks off with a softball:

Who will be the Detroit Lions’ offensive MVP in 2017?

Mike Payton: Matthew Stafford.

It's simple. Matthew Stafford. The Lions fall off a cliff without their quarterback.

Justin Simon: Matthew Stafford.

It will be Matthew Stafford and it won't even be close. If Ameer Abdullah can stay healthy for 16 games, I think he might put himself in consideration, but this team is built to run through Stafford's arm. If the Lions are going to make any noise in 2017 it will be because Matthew Stafford is running the show.

Kyle Yost: Matthew Stafford

Sometimes the obvious choice is the best choice. The Lions go as Matthew Stafford goes, and an improved offensive line and secondary weapons should give him all he needs to succeed. As we have seen in past seasons, the offense will have to shoulder a heavy burden for the team. If things do not go Detroit’s way this year, I doubt that will be because of No. 9.

Andrew Kato: Matthew Stafford

This team's offense is built around Stafford, and either goes or doesn't go with his performance.

Kent Lee Platte: Matthew Stafford

Easy answer here is Stafford and he will deserve it. If looking at someone else, my guess would be Golden Tate. He'll still be looking to top 90 catches and should have no trouble doing so in this offense.

Chris Perfett: Eric Ebron

(I didn’t even think of Matthew Stafford when I first wrote this. Quarterbacks don’t count, half-decent ones and up are always MVP if they’re included. Challenge yourself fools.)

Eric Ebron. One day, I will say this enough times, and it will become true. It will become true and everyone will hate it. Everyone will hate everything, except Eric Ebron. He will be victorious, and when he is, it will be...

Ryan Mathews: Matthew Stafford

Anybody who picks anyone else is doing that silly thing where they're tired of seeing awards and accolades go to the people who deserve them for the sake of switching things up and being different.

Jeremy Reisman: Matthew Stafford

As Mike Payton has tried to tell y’all, time and time again, Matthew Stafford belongs in the conversation of the elite. Screw your win-loss records. Screw your playoff wins. This guy is the best player on the team and one of the best in the league.