As far as sportsbooks are concerned, the 2017 NFL draft will not have a butterfly effect on the odds to win Super Bowl 52.
The Favorites
New England Patriots. The Pats selected OLB Derek Rivers, offensive tackle Antonio Garcia, defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr., and offensive tackle Conor McDermott – the lowest number of draftees in Bill Belichick’s era. New England had to forfeit the fourth-round selection that they obtained from the trade with the New Orleans Saints as punishment for the so-called Deflategate scandal. On the other hand, Tom Brady will be able to start under center from day one this coming season, and Rob Gronkowski is expected to be back in the starting lineup as well.
Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys drafted the awesomely named Taco Charlton as the 28th pick in the first round, but it’s the second and third round selections of Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis that Dallas hopes will help fill the gaps left by the departures of Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne, Barry Church, and JJ Wilcox.
Kansas City Chiefs. Could the Chiefs’ selection of quarterback Patrick Mahomes II as the 10th pick in the first round lead to a situation similar to with what the Eagles had to deal with Carson Wentz, with Alex Smith playing the Sam Bradford role?
Houston Texans
Speaking of QB controversy, it’s sort of ironic that the Texans were supposedly after Tony Romo, because now that they have selected CFP national champion Deshaun Watson, they’re probably hoping he can do for them what Dak Prescott did for the Cowboys. Sportsbooks may beg to differ, though.
The Underdogs
Cleveland Browns. The Browns are optimistic that second round selection DeShone Kizer will be the end of their quarterback woes – and if the former Notre Dame QB can go the entire season without injuring himself, that alone could be considered a success for Cleveland. That aside, it’s on defense that the Browns are expected to make an impact with first overall pick Myles Garrett and 25th overall pick Jabrill Peppers.
Chicago Bears. Da Bears went all out and traded the third-overall pick, a 2017 third-round pick, a 2017 fourth-round pick, and a 2018 third-round pick to San Francisco in exchange for the 49ers’ second-overall pick – which turned out to be North Carolina QB Mitchell Trubisky. At the very least this answer the question of which team was more desperate for a new starting quarterback.
San Francisco 49ers. As a matter of fact, the Niners waited until the third round to select a QB; 104th overall pick CJ Beathard. Before that, they selected defensive end Solomon Jones as the third pick in the first round, linebacker Reuben Foster as the 31st pick in the first round, and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon as the 66th pick in the third round. Under center, they will go with clean-cut, next-door-kids Matt Barkley and Brian Hoyer in lieu of Colin Kaepernick – who left the 49ers to join La Revolucion. Or enter the free-agency market. Probably the latter.
Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jags selected running back Leonard Fournette as the 4th overall pick in the first round, but sportsbooks still see them as a long shot.
