Several quarterbacks know they’re only keeping the seat warm until rookie counterparts are ready to take the reins, but a trio of veterans are expected to at least open the 2021 season as starters.
While Trevor Lawrence is expected to start from the outset in Jacksonville and the New York Jets may hand the keys to the offense to No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson, three other quarterbacks drafted in the first round will likely be given more time to develop. Jimmy Garoppolo‘s long-term future in San Francisco is in serious question after the 49ers used the third overall pick on Trey Lance. Lance arrives in the NFL with limited experience following his time at North Dakota State, and he is being offered at +220 by DraftKings to start Week 1.
Garoppolo is the odds-on favorite at -278 as he is expected to help groom Lance for at least a chunk of the 2021 season, if not all of it. Josh Rosen (+3300) and Nate Sudfeld (+4000) are the other two quarterbacks on the roster.
The 49ers also considered Ohio State’s Justin Fields and Alabama’s Mac Jones with the No. 3 pick. Fields ultimately slipped to the Chicago Bears at No. 11 and the New England Patriots grabbed Jones at No. 15.
Fields (+600) is behind only Lawrence (+300) in the offensive rookie of the year market at DraftKings, tied with Lance (+600) and ahead of Wilson (+700).
However, Fields is being offered at +160 to start Week 1 for Chicago. The Bears added Andy Dalton (-167) in free agency and still have fellow veteran Nick Foles (+900) on the roster.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Cam Newton is “our quarterback” after drafting Jones. How long that is the case remains to be seen, but Newton is the heavy favorite at -286 by DraftKings to open the season as New England’s starting quarterback.
Jones is +300, well ahead of third-year veteran Jarrett Stidham (+800), who failed to win the job away from Newton last year despite New England’s offensive struggles in 2020.
–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)
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