Making the case for betting on Aaron Donald to win Super Bowl MVP

On Tuesday, Matt Wiesenfeld highlighted a few of the MVP betting options worth a look in Super Bowl LVI. It's a great bit of analysis, and one that inspired me to pen my own.

While Super Bowl MVPs are typically quarterbacks, I agree that this year feels like a terrific chance to bet on a non-QB to win it, and my favorite option by far is star Rams defensive linemen Aaron Donald.

Donald is currently +1600 to win MVP on DraftKings, a bet I believe is worth serious consideration.

History of Defensive Super Bowl MVPs

Since 2000, there has been four defenders who took home MVP honors. LB Ray Lewis in Super Bowl XXXV, CB Dexter Jackson in Super Bowl XXXVII, LB Malcolm Smith in XLVIII and LB Von Miller in Super Bowl 50.

Lewis was the leader of an elite Ravens defense that held the Giants to just seven points.

Jackson had two interceptions in the first half to get the Buccaneers ahead early, and Smith has a pick-six and a fumble recovery for Seattle.

Von Miller, now on this Rams team, recorded 2.5 sacks en route to his win six years ago, and similar production would be needed from Donald to take it home as well.

Donald Should Put Up Numbers

Donald is quite simply the best defensive player in the entire NFL, and has been for the last five years. Even when not piling up statistics, the constant double-teams and attention he draws in the trenches makes him invaluable to this Los Angeles defense.

Donald had 12.5 sacks during the regular season and has added on 1.5 more in these playoffs.

It's been well-documented how vulnerable this Cincinnati offensive line is, and this interior o-line could have serious difficulties slowing down Donald.

The Bengals gave up 55 sacks during the regular season, which was third-most in the NFL. That issue remained during the postseason, with Joe Burrow being sacked 12 times in three games.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles racked up 50 sacks during the regular season, third-most in the league.

If you put weight into how Pro Football Focus grades position players, you'll agree that Donald could wreck this entire game.

The Bengals right guard, Hakeem Adeniji, is graded out as the second-worst guard in all of football, and the Bengals center, Trey Hopkins, is graded as the fourth-worst at his position.

Those are two glaring weaknesses that Donald and this line feel likely to feast against.