It is NFL Draft week! This is one of the most exciting weeks for NFL fans of every team. It is the ultimate time of hope, as fans hope the team will pick the franchise’s future. This year’s draft is dripping with intrigue. Four quarterback prospects will likely go in the first round, with a few other fringe candidates who could be taken in round one. One of the most interesting picks is the Washington Commanders at second overall. A massive odds shift on Monday morning may signal a surprise pick on draft night.
NFL Draft: Massive Shift In Odds For One QB
NEWS: J.J. McCarthy's odds to be selected 2nd in the NFL Draft Thursday night have shifted from +2000 to +900, per @FDSportsbook👀https://t.co/ABtvPDZM4G pic.twitter.com/zXZrKJvXcc
— On3 (@On3sports) April 22, 2024
The first overall pick is Caleb Williams. Unless he and the Chicago Bears are running one of the greatest cons of all time, the USC quarterback is going to the Windy City. However, the intrigue begins at the second overall pick. For weeks, Jayden Daniels has been the pick, but recent reports have poured cold water on that pick. Daniels is reportedly upset about the pre-draft process and may refuse to play for the team.
On FanDuel this morning, the odds of Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy going second overall rose from +2000 to +900. While he isn’t the betting favorite, he is no longer a complete longshot. The Michigan quarterback has been the consensus fourth signal-caller off the board for weeks, but the sportsbooks are hearing that there is a strong likelihood of McCarthy going over Daniels and Drake Maye. Would this be a smart pick by the Commanders?
Should They Take McCarthy?
It would still be a shock if the Washington Commanders selected JJ McCarthy in the NFL Draft with their first-round pick. While McCarthy provides a lot of upside, many feel he is more of a project. The Commanders probably want someone who is ready to step in a play right away. However, this may be difficult even if they don’t take McCarthy. Drake Maye has shown he needs some fine-tuning, and Daniels is far from a perfect prospect.
Whoever the team takes will need some work. This may be why people are starting to think JJ McCarthy might be the second QB taken. If Daniels will not play for them and the team is low on Maye, McCarthy is the next obvious choice.
Final Thoughts
The odds don’t always tell the whole story. There could be a ton of money being put on McCarthy, and the books are making sure they don’t lose a ton of money if it does happen. They could also be trying to game the system, hoping to get more action and, therefore, more money. However, the odds can give us an idea of what teams are thinking.
What this tells us is the Washington Commanders are strongly considering JJ McCarthy. Whether they will or not is one thing but it is in the realm of possibility.
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Matt Brown has been following sports since he was a kid. It does not matter what sport he is talking about; he tends to be an expert in it. When he is not glued to following sports, he is a banker in Wisconsin and hosts two podcasts, Beers and Ears & Discontinued on Display.
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