2021 Super Bowl odds: Quarterback carousel shaping the landscape
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For the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, the 2021 season is a distant afterthought. However, the 30 other teams have already begun preparations ahead of what promises to be a busy offseason.
Oddsmakers have just released their initial Super Bowl odds for the 2021 season, which are evidently being dictated by the impending quarterback circus set to develop over the next couple of months.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | 7-1 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 8-1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 8-1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 10-1 |
| New England Patriots | 12-1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 12-1 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 16-1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 20-1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 20-1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 20-1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 30-1 |
| Chicago Bears | 30-1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 30-1 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 30-1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 30-1 |
| Houston Texans | 30-1 |
| Tennessee Titans | 30-1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 30-1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 40-1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 40-1 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 40-1 |
| Denver Broncos | 60-1 |
| New York Jets | 60-1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 60-1 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 80-1 |
| New York Giants | 80-1 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 80-1 |
| Detroit Lions | 80-1 |
| Carolina Panthers | 100-1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 100-1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 100-1 |
| Washington Redskins | 100-1 |
New England Patriots (12-1)
Tom Brady's free-agency decision will be the biggest factor in this quarterback carousel. He'll likely be the first domino to fall before the rest of the landscape can settle.
Brady is currently a -300 favorite to return to New England, but these odds reflect a degree of uncertainty surrounding his future. Should the Patriots reach an agreement with the 42-year-old, the odds would likely shorten to the 10-1 range.
Pittsburgh Steelers (12-1)
This line is a clear indication that oddsmakers believe Ben Roethlisberger will return to the Steelers in full health next season. Pittsburgh overachieved in 2019, narrowly missing the playoffs with a combination of Mason Rudolph and Delvin Hodges at quarterback. Roethlisberger was limited to just one-and-a-half games as a result of an elbow injury.
Chicago Bears (30-1)
General manager Ryan Pace committed to Mitchell Trubisky as his starting quarterback in 2020. Trubisky's underwhelming performance this past season and the Bears' devotion to giving him another year at the helm have left them among a middling pack of 30-1 candidates. Pursuing a free agent such as Cam Newton would take a significant financial commitment but would certainly improve the outlook ahead of the 2020 campaign.
Los Angeles Chargers (30-1)
With Philip Rivers' tenure as quarterback likely over, much longer odds than 30-1 were expected for the Chargers. There's a method to the madness, though, as Los Angeles is considered the favorite to land Brady should he decide to move on from New England. Opening L.A. at 30-1 limits the amount of liability that books will leave themselves exposed to should Brady sign, as opposed to taking large wagers at 60-1 and then having to shorten them in half following a potential deal with Brady.
Carolina Panthers (100-1)
Oddsmakers clearly don't think Brady will sign in Carolina, but the Panthers are building quite a case with their offseason hires. Matt Rhule has been brought in from Baylor to serve as head coach, while Joe Brady - the mastermind behind Joe Burrow's record-breaking season - was appointed as the new offensive coordinator. There's terrific value here at 100-1, as odds would likely settle around 30-1 should the future Hall of Famer put pen to paper.
Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.