2020 NFL Draft: NFL odds for starting QBs based on draft results

The 2019 NFL season is already approaching the halfway mark, and we are starting to take a look at next year. With the 2020 NFL draft shaping up to have a number of tantalizing storylines, one of the most crucial will be the landing spots of top tier starting quarterbacks. Using recently released NFL odds, we can hypothesize where some new and familiar names might be taking snaps under center in the 2020 season. 

Pro Football Network has done several pieces on some possible 2020 NFL Draft results, with the most recent put together by Neal Driscoll. Comparing these mock drafts with the NFL odds that we have recently seen, we can put together some suggested bets to place as soon as they become available.

The website sportsbettingdime.com used their oddsmakers to put together the NFL odds for where some of the big college names might land, and also where some veterans might be taking their talents after the 2019 season. Here is a glimpse of the intriguing starting quarterback situations for the 2020 season.

Miami Dolphins

One thing we have heard throughout the entire 2019 NFL season is that the Miami Dolphins are actively trying to “Tank for Tua.” What exactly does this mean? Well, there is a widespread belief that the Dolphins have their eye on Alabama’s starting QB Tua Tagovailoa and they are willing to do whatever it takes to get him in the 2020 NFL draft. 

Purposely losing is not that common in the NFL, and the Dolphins are no exception to this rule. The reality is that the team is simply not very good. Their current QB duo of Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen are playing behind a terrible offensive line with zero run game. They have yet to win a game and are currently tied with the Cincinnati Bengals for the worst record in the NFL. 

The Dolphins will likely be battling with the Bengals for the first overall pick in the draft. In Neal’s mock draft, Cincinnati had the edge and grabbed Tua. However, odds from sportsbettingdime.com suggest otherwise. Both Rosen and Tagovailoa are +500 to be the starting QB for Miami. Tagovailoa is +900 to be suiting up for Cincinnati. 

The other option for Miami is Oregon Ducks starting QB Justin Herbert at +900. Herbert’s draft capital has been sliding as of late, and PFN’s own draft expert Tony Pauline thinks Herbert can do a bit more to help his draft stock. More specifically, Herbert’s inability to come through in big spots raises some red flags not only for Pauline but for others in the NFL scouting community.

I wouldn’t fall for all of the noise and would be confident in picking Tua to be the starting QB for Miami at +500 odds. You can also forget about Fitzpatrick stealing the starting job for Miami, as his current odds are +1200 to be a starter for any team in the NFL Week 1. So, it’s unlikely that will be with Miami.

Cincinnati Bengals

The aforementioned Bengals will likely have the second overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. If Tua is off the board at this point, who do oddsmakers think will suit up to replace Andy Dalton? The current NFL odds favorite is actually a QB that team already has on the roster, 2019 NFL draft pick Ryan Finley. Finley played his college career for NC State before being drafted by the Bengals last year.

Dalton has struggled so far this season, and head coach Zac Taylor seems to be on the verge of starting Finley. Interestingly enough, if Finley plays the rest of the year and struggles, oddsmakers believe that Cincinnati could draft another QB in the 2020 NFL draft. That second option is LSU QB, Joe Burrow. He is currently +900 to be the Bengals starter next year. 

Burrow is an interesting option, and he has impressed Pauline and other NFL draft scouts. Pauline had this to say when talking about Burrow.

“I like Burrow’s athleticism, legs, arm, decision making, and ability to make plays in or out of the pocket. Everything is pointing in the right direction, but there’s still a lot of college football season left.”

However, he doesn’t believe he is a top-ten pick just yet. That +900 price doesn’t represent enough value for such a “long shot” play. Some other options for the Bengals are Dalton at +400 and Herbert at +1200.

Chicago Bears

This one might come as quite a surprise considering the Chicago Bears and QB Mitch Trubisky were in the playoffs in 2018. However, Trubisky has never really impressed at the QB position, and the team is struggling this year. They could look to the 2020 NFL draft to find a replacement at the position. 

The NFL odds on favorite right now is Trubisky at +180. The second closest? It might come as a surprise, but oddsmakers believe that former NFL Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles could make his way to the windy city.

The Jaguars are currently succeeding with QB Gardner Minshew, and he has -300 odds to be the starter in the 2020 season. That means Foles will need a new home. Chicago looks to be the team that could afford to take on his big contract.

Behind Foles, oddsmakers have Chase Daniel at +2500, Cam Newton at +3000, Nick Mullens at +4000, Marcus Mariota at +4500, and finally Eli Manning at +7500. 

It looks like the Bears could be open to bringing on a number of guys. My personal lean would be Newton. If he continues to heal and his shoulder is back to normal, he could be an explosive weapon to add to this offense. Pairing him up with a wide receiver like Allen Robinson, this talented running game, and an all-world defense could improve the Bears Super Bowl odds.

Veterans 

Besides the few teams mentioned above, some teams are likely to continue with their veteran guys. Oddsmakers believe that the ageless wonder Tom Brady will once again be under center for the New England Patriots with -233 odds. They also expect Roethlisberger to return for Pittsburgh with -200 odds. Finally, Los Angeles Chargers are likely to be with Rivers once again with -600 odds.