For the first time in 20 years, the New England Patriots enter the offseason not knowing the identity of their starting quarterback. That’s not enough to slow down bets on the Patriots to bounce back and reclaim the Lombardi Trophy next season.
DraftKings lists the Patriots fifth in their NFL championship futures at +1400 despite questions about where Tom Brady might end up this season.
But the Patriots are getting 17 percent of the total handle to win the Super Bowl in February 2021. That’s best in the NFL, ahead of the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs (13 percent), who have received the most total bets (14 percent of Super Bowl bets) to date.
Kansas City is the favorite at DraftKings with +600 odds.
The NFL offseason shifts into gear this week as the NFL Scouting Combine kicks off in Indianapolis.
Brady’s future is up in the air after he and the Patriots agreed to a contract prior to the 2019 season that opens the door to free agency and disallows use of the franchise tag by the Patriots.
The top free-agent question for the Chiefs surrounds the future of unheralded defensive tackle Chris Jones. Jones, 25, is a candidate for the franchise tag if a long-term contract cannot be worked out.
DraftKings pegs the Baltimore Ravens one spot below the Chiefs at +800, followed by the San Francisco 49ers at +1000. The 49ers are receiving eight percent of total Super Bowl bets and 10 percent of the handle.
The New Orleans Saints are +1200 with New England ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles (+1700). The Eagles are drawing more bets and taking more of the handle — 6 percent of both — than the Saints (3, 5 percent), as are the Dallas Cowboys (+1800, 4 percent total bets and handle).