Joe Burrow and Chase Young were the top two overall NFL Draft picks last week. They were also the first offensive and defensive players taken in the class, respectively.
On Monday they also received the distinction of becoming the odds-on favorite to win NFL Rookie of the Year contests at BetMGM Indiana. The odds are already available at the Indiana online sportsbook.
Burrow, Young lead the futures markets for NFL ROY awards
Cincinnati’s new signal-caller, Burrow, opens at +200 to receive the next Offensive ROY award. The rest of the field, now live for BetMGM customers, is as follows:
- D’Andre Swift: +850
- Tua Tagovailoa: + 900
- Jonathan Taylor: +950
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire: +1,000
- CeeDee Lamb: +1,200
- Jerry Jeudy: +1,200
- Justin Jefferson: +1,200
- Henry Ruggs III: +1,800
At the same time, Young also currently has the shortest odds to claim the Defensive ROY award next season at +350. In the field is one of Young’s former Ohio State teammates, third overall selection Jeff Okudah.
- Isaiah Simmons: +900
- AJ Epenesa: +1,500
- Grant Delpit: +1,500
- Jeff Okudah: +1,500
- Patrick Queen: +1,750
- Xavier McKinney: 1,750
- Kristian Fulton: +1,750
- Kenneth Murray: +2,000
While Burrow and Young are certainly talented enough and in proper situations to justify their favorite statuses, there are others in the field who could seriously challenge them. They may represent great value for bettors.
Contenders in both fields who could become sleeper betting picks
The potential benefit of getting your wager in now is taking advantage of odds on contenders in the field that might shorten over the course of the offseason and regular season. One player in the offensive field is a great example of that opportunity.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire raised some eyebrows going 32nd overall to the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. With a line of +1,000 on him taking the top offensive rookie honors, he should raise bettors’ eyebrows as well.
It’s no secret Kansas City head coach Andy Reid loves pass-catching running backs. He will have to share touches but the potential he has in the Chiefs’ offense means theline should only get smaller.
Patrick Queen similarly should be an eye-opener on the defensive side. He not only joins a stalwart Baltimore Ravens defense that only allowed 300.6 yards per game to opponents on average last season but also possesses the playmaking abilities to shine in such a scheme.
Again, at +1,750, the odds will only get shorter if he performs up to his potential. The 28th overall selection was a teammate of Burrow’s at LSU and, true to this pattern, next year’s top overall NFL Draft selection could see several of his teammates taken in the first round as well.
BetMGM’s market on the top 2021 NFL Draft Pick is open now as well
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence leads BetMGM’s pack of candidates for the 2021 first overall selection. One of his teammates, running back Travis Etienne, has much longer odds but is included here:
- Trevor Lawrence: -250
- Justin Fields: +350
- Penei Sewell: +500
- D’Eriq King: + 1,400
- Micah Parsons: +2,000
- Jamie Newman: + 4,000
- Alex Leatherwood: + 4,000
- Gregory Rousseau: + 4,000
- Travis Etienne: +4,000
In the same way, the odds on these players may shorten based on how they fare over the next college football season. They might get longer as well, and that’s the risk you take on futures markets.
Bengals fans hope that the hype on Burrow is justified. BetMGM is happy to accommodate bettors in Indiana who literally want to buy in on that hype right now.
