NFL Futures: Best Bets for Week 1 Starting Quarterbacks (2020)
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In just a few days, the first-ever totally virtual NFL Draft will take place, live from commissioner Roger Goodell’s basement. This is not a joke.
As odd as it may feel, even a shred of normalcy will be a much-needed reprieve for sports fans across the country to see the NFL continuing their calendar — mostly as usual. As the draft closes out over the weekend, teams will have a better idea of their depth charts come the fall and which quarterbacks will be competing in camp.
Even more so in years past, sportsbooks across the country are offering a plethora of prop bets for this year’s draft that will provide American bettors much-needed live-action (that isn’t Russian ping pong or Madden simulations).
One category of NFL prop bets whose market is certain to change following Thursday’s draft is one offered by our friends over a DraftKings. With seven teams currently listed, you can place a bet on which quarterback will be the starter for that team in Week 1.
Let’s take a look at two such teams I have a feel on.
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Las Vegas Raiders
In what will be his third year in charge of the team, I’d imagine that head coach Jon Gruden is tired of the mediocrity under center. Even though Carr is the likely starter, and he may get the benefit of the doubt given the circus around him the last 18 months, the Raiders brought another guy in for a reason.
A former second overall pick, Marcus Mariota played well early on in Tennessee before battling injuries and then a change in systems. His added ability outside the pocket makes him a prime candidate to really compete for this job over the summer. The early signing also gets him to speed with the offense and gives him that much more of chance come preseason ball, assuming the season goes on as planned.
As was evident in HBO’s Hard Knocks and subsequent media interviews over the season, Gruden is far from sold on Carr. And to be clear, Derek was never “his guy.” Additionally, this is only a topic of debate if Carr isn’t traded before the season starts, which is a real possibility.
Washington Redskins
It’s a new day in Washington, as former Panthers head coach Ron Rivera is now at the helm, taking complete control of the team. Their current starting guy, Dwayne Haskins, was said to be the choice of owner Dan Snyder, even as the former coaching staff didn’t want to draft him last season.
With an already known cast of doubt, Rivera then proceeded to bring a guy that produced for him in Carolina in Kyle Allen. Before coming to the Redskins, the Patriots were rumored to be interested in him, showing the caliber of quarterback he’s believed to be across the league.
If the offseason is shortened, which it appears to have to be almost certainly in some way, that gives Allen even more of a leg up, as he’s already familiar with Rivera’s offense, Haskins did very little to show he was ready for the league last season, and with a coaching staff change and oddball offseason, I don’t see that changing in time for September.
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TJ Perun is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from TJ, check out his archive and follow him @JohnnyCovers.