Quarterbacks flew off the board in last year’s draft. In all, a total of five field generals were selected over the course of the first 15 selections. This year, I don’t think a single one will hear their name called once the first 15 picks have been announced. As such, it comes with little surprise to see online sportsbooks lining total amount of QB’s selected in the first round at 3.5 with absurd -362 juice attached to the under. Personally, I wouldn’t be shocked if at most two quarterbacks hear their names called within the first 32 picks. That being said, at least one will be taken in the opening round and odds are currently available to wager on which player Roger Goodell calls out first. Let’s put them under the microscope and see if any present value at their current pay rate.
Bet NFL Draft Props at Bookmaker.eu
First Quarterback Selected
Malik Willis -145
Kenny Pickett +115
Desmond Ridder +900
Matt Corral +950
Sam Howell +4000
I’ve got three teams listed with a dire need to add the quarterback of their future to the roster heading into the 2022-23 NFL betting season; Seattle, Carolina, and Atlanta. You can throw New Orleans and Pittsburgh into the equation as well.
In trading Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos, the Seahawks QB depth chart reads as such: Drew Lock - Geno Smith - Jacob Eason. Sorry, but that trio hardly breeds confidence moving forward. But will the need to inject new QB blood into the roster be enough to force GM John Schneider to look for a QB with the No. 9 pick? I think not! Not with the roster badly in need of major help along the offensive line. Should any of the major players of the OL crop fall, you can bet your bottom dollar Seattle either trades up or locks one in at their current position. With two early second round selections, I think Seattle will still have a fantastic shot at hitching its wagon to Matt Corral, Sam Howell or even Desmond Ridder.
The only two QBs currently on Carolina’s roster include Sam Darnold and P.J. Walker. Due to injuries and ineffectiveness, the duo already proved unable to get the offense’s motor running. Even with fantastic offensive weapons like Christian McCaffrey and DJ Moore in tow! That being said, the offensive line was in a word grotesque. It opened up running lanes for an average of 4.0 yards per carry (No. 23) and allowed a whopping 52 sacks (No. 28). As such, the offense ranked No. 20 rushing the ball and No. 29 passing it. Without another pick until the fourth round, it makes absolutely zero sense to go QB at No. 6! If Ickey Ekwonu, Evan Neal, or Charles Cross is available and not drafted, Matt Rhule should do himself a major solid now and just quit!
The Matt Ryan era is over in “Hotlanta” after being shipped to Indianapolis in the offseason. While many a fan of the franchise would like to see his replacement added to the roster immediately, I’m not sold on Terry Fontenot jumping at the opportunity of selecting any of these options at No. 8. The only way it occurs is if he trades down, but I don’t foresee that being the case either with the Falcons in need of filling numerous spots on the roster. Even with Ryan on the roster a season ago, the offense ranked No. 29 overall and No. 26 in scoring. That side of the ball needs more than just a QB; especially after losing Russell Gage in free agency and Calvin Ridley suspended for 2022. The defense however took strides in the right direction, and I bet money the Falcons look to improve it in the first round. If either of the top two cornerbacks fall, they’d love to pair either of them up with AJ Terrell to form a dominant lockdown secondary.
That leaves New Orleans and Pittsburgh as the first two teams to select a quarterback at their current draft positions. New Orleans has a serviceable QB room with Jameis Winston, the newly acquired Andy Dalton, and Ian Book; don’t forget about Taysom Hill. As for Pittsburgh, it just inked former Chicago Bears cast-off Mitchell Trubisky to an incentive-laden two-year deal in the offseason. They’ve also got Mason Rudolph waiting in the wings. Simply just by going how the teams look on paper at the position, New Orleans looks to be better off. It should concentrate on adding talent at wide receiver, offensive line, or safety instead of looking for another quarterback. It could even trade down from one of its two first round picks to snag one later if need be.
Though Pittsburgh also has needs at WR and in the secondary, it doesn’t have another pick until the back end of the second round (No. 52). It’s highly likely that none of these QB options will remain on the board once that pick comes around. As such, I firmly believe the Steelers will be selecting the quarterback of their future at No. 20. And that quarterback of the future will be none other than the running -145 favorite, Malik Willis. Mike Tomlin is supposedly enamored with the kid and the front office is said to have done more than their due diligence breaking him down. Though everyone and their mother is predicting Willis goes to the Steel City at No. 20, the same thing occurred with Najee Harris last year and we all know how that story ended. Since I don’t foresee any team taking a shot on a QB before the clock starts on the Steelers, look for the Liberty product to be the first quarterback drafted in 2022 NFL Draft betting.
NFL Draft Wager: Malik Willis -145
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