Panthers Week 1 Starter Odds: Is Deshaun Watson in Play?
The Panthers have been rumored to be as aggressive as anyone in their pursuit of Deshaun Watson. Still, oddsmakers aren’t buying it. They still believe that for better or worse, Sam Darnold is going to be the team’s Week 1 starter.
Kyle Newman - March 15, 2022, 5:40 PM EDT
3 minutesPanthers Week 1 Starter Odds: Is Deshaun Watson in Play?
The Panthers have been rumored to be as aggressive as anyone in their pursuit of Deshaun Watson. Still, oddsmakers aren’t buying it. They still believe that for better or worse, Sam Darnold is going to be the team’s Week 1 starter.
Darnold is given +225 odds, or an implied 30.8% chance to return as the Panthers’ starter in Week 1. Watson is his biggest competition at +250, or an implied 28.6% chance to take the role. The other high-profile potential trade target, Jimmy Garoppolo, is given +1400 odds, or an implied 6.7% chance to be the team’s Week 1 starter. Oddsmakers do believe there are other options.
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Cam Newton is given +800 odds, or an 11.1% chance to reclaim the starting job in Carolina. The Panthers are given +1000 odds, or an implied 9.1% chance to sign Jameis Winston. Mitchell Trubisky is given +1200 odds, or an implied 7.7% chance.
The Watson rumors are strong, and they make a lot of sense for a Panthers team desperate for an upgrade at quarterback. However, the Seahawks are the favorites to land him at +150, and that means oddsmakers believe the Panthers need a plan b. For now, that’s Sam Darnold. It’s also noteworthy that oddsmakers don’t believe a rookie quarterback is a viable option in Carolina despite selecting sixth overall. They believe it’s a win-now QB or bust for the Panthers.
Carolina Panthers Week 1 QB Odds
Quarterback | Odds | Implied chance |
|---|---|---|
Sam Darnold | +225 | 30.8% |
Deshaun Watson | +250 | 28.6% |
Cam Newton | +800 | 11.1% |
Jameis Winston | +1000 | 9.1% |
Mitchell Trubisky | +1200 | 7.7% |
Jimmy Garoppolo | +1400 | 6.7% |
