The 2020 NFL season is almost here and with starting quarterbacks set to take the field in Week 1, oddsmakers and fans are already thinking ahead to the first passer who will be benched this season.
Unsurprisingly, there’s plenty of competition for the unfortunate honor of the first quarterback to be demoted to holding a clipboard. The Los Angeles Chargers and Miami Dolphins each spent top-10 picks on a quarterback and the clock is ticking with fans clamoring for the new face of the franchise.
NFL Odds: Dwayne Haskins favored to be benched first this season
Led by a new head coach and front office, the Washington Football Team made numerous changes before the regular season. Dwayne Haskins will get the starting nod in Week 1, but it’s far from a guarantee he holds the job for long.
Sports Betting AG released its latest odds and prop bets for the NFL season and Haskins is the early favorite to be demoted to second-string quarterback. However, some big moves this offseason have put other quarterbacks on the chopping block.
- Dwayne Haskins – (+150)
- Ryan Fitzpatrick – (+225)
- Mitch Trubisky – (+250)
- Sam Darnold – (+500)
- Tyrod Taylor – (+500)
Haskins faced some competition in training camp from Kyle Allen, who head coach Ron Rivera coached in Carolina. The bigger focus will be on Alex Smith, whose incredible recovery from a leg injury that threatened his life has led to an improbable comeback.
It would be an incredible story if Smith returned to the NFL this season, but he’s the No.3 quarterback for a reason and it’s still unlikely he plays this year. Besides, Washington needs to see what it has in its 2019 first-round pick.
Yes, Haskins struggled as a rookie with a 76.1 quarterback rating, seven interceptions and he only completed 58.6% of his passes. However, he posted a 99.1 quarterback rating in December with a 5-1 TD-INT ratio and a 63.2% completion rate. Washington won’t be competing for anything but a top-five pick this year, given they have the worst offense in the NFL, so they might as well find out if Haskins can be their long-term answer at quarterback.
The Bears put pressure on Trubisky before training camp by trading for Nick Foles, who was expected to win the starting job. Instead, Chicago will stick with the former No. 2 overall pick. Given how he looked this past season and his inconsistent performance in practices this summer, he may not be long for the job.
In Miami, the Dolphins will likely take their time with Tua Tagovailoa. Fitzpatrick will likely start in the first month and he deserves it, especially given his chance to pass a few Hall of Famers in multiple stats. However, this season is about preparing for the future and that centers on Tagovailoa. He is fully healthy and throwing on the move without issue, so it’s only a matter of time before head coach Brian Flores gives the fans what they want.
Darnold is the most surprising name among the favorites. While he hasn’t quite lived up to the reputation of the No. 3 overall pick, he showed improvement in his second season. New York could turn to Joe Flacco, who might be cleared to return from neck surgery in Week 3.
In the end, Darnold will likely last far longer as the Jets’ starting quarterback than Adam Gase will as head coach. It’s evident the organization doesn’t believe in Gase, his former players don’t like him and he’s firmly on the hot seat