SportsLine oddsmakers have released their odds on who will be the Washington Commanders’ first-ever starting QB.
- Taylor Heinicke +300
- Jimmy Garoppolo +400
- 2022 draft pick +500
- Deshaun Watson +700
- Teddy Bridgewater +800
- Jameis Winston +900
- Marcus Mariota +900
- Russell Wilson +1000
- Aaron Rodgers +1500
Incumbent Taylor Heinicke is leading the way at +300. That’s based on the belief that the Commanders will draft a quarterback with the 11th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft who is likely to not beat Heinicke out for week 1 starting duties. Heinicke is familiar with offensive coordinator Scott Turner’s offense and now has a full year of starter’s reps under his belt. Oddsmakers aren’t certain Heinicke will beat a newly drafted quarterback out for the position, as the odds for the 2022 draft pick starting are at +500, which is the third most likely situation.
Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers are working together to find a trade partner for the veteran quarterback who is coming off of a loss in the NFC Championship game. While his stats don’t jump out of you, his win/loss record as a starter is hard to look past, as he has gone 33-14 in his 47 NFL starts (2-0 with the Patriots in 2016 and 31-14 with the 49ers in the last 5 seasons). He is listed as the second most likely option at +400.
Deshaun Watson has been dealing with 22 civil suits claiming sexual misconduct against the quarterback. A grand jury has been investigated whether Watson’s alleged misconduct violates any relevant criminal laws. Watson remains under contract to the Texans, but did not play at all in 2021. The unresolved legal issue continues to be an impediment to any trade and the resumption of his NFL career. He is listed as the fourth most likely at +700.
Teddy Bridgewater (+800), Jameis Winston (+900), and Marcus Mariota (+900) are the next three in line. Bridgewater has started 29 games in the last 2 seasons, going a combined 11-18 for the Panthers in 2020 and Broncos last year. Winston started strong for the Saints, going 5-2 with 14 touchdowns and 3 interceptions before suffering a season ending injury in week 7. Mariota hasn’t started a game for Las Vegas since joining the team two seasons ago, but showed enough in his time in Tennessee to be in the conversation for a starting job in 2022.
The two biggest names that could potentially be available are perennial Pro-Bowlers Russell Wilson (+1000) and Aaron Rodgers (+1500). Wilson threw for 25 touchdowns and 6 interceptions in a “down” year while Rodgers once again dominated the league with 37 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Though these are the two least likely in the Sportsline odds, they are also the two most likely to make the biggest impact for the newly rebranded franchise.
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