2024 NFL QB Starters Odds: Which QBs Get Passing Grades?
The Best NFL Quarterbacks Could be Overshadowed by Some Intriguing Quarterback Battles
Rookies Look to Follow In the Footsteps of 2023 Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud
2024 NFL QB Starters Odds Preview: It is not a coincidence that the 12 NFL teams with the best odds to win the Super Bowl also are the ones with little question about who will be the starting quarterback in Week 1 of the NFL season.
The six teams that took quarterbacks in the first 12 picks of the 2024 NFL Draft can only hope that they get mentioned alongside Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and 2023 rookie phenom C.J. Stroud when it comes to the list of the best NFL quarterbacks.
Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, will make his NFL debut in the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 1 in Canton, Ohio when Williams and the Chicago Bears meet up with Stroud’s Houston Texans in the first of the NFL preseason games.
His first regular-season game comes on Sept. 8 when the Chicago Bears welcome the Tennessee Titans to town.
The NFL quarterback rankings begin with Kansas City’s Mahomes as he has led the Chiefs to the last two Super Bowl titles. The Chiefs will play in the first game of the regular season for the second season in a row with Kansas City favored by 2.5 points against the Baltimore Ravens in a rematch of the 2023 AFC Championship Game.
While the top teams have an unquestioned starter at quarterback, those faced with more questions than answers at the position could be more intriguing in the early stages of the 2024 NFL season.
Quarterback Battles to Monitor
Six teams could have the most interesting quarterback situations so let’s look at them.
Aidan O’Connell didn’t throw his first pass in the NFL regular season until Oct. 1 but he finished with 2218 yards in 11 games. He had 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
However, he comes in at +170 to be the starting quarterback with the Las Vegas Raiders on their first offensive play. Journeyman Gardner Minshew is the favorite at -260.
It is a similar story in New England as Jacoby Brissett has -300 odds to win the job over rookie Drake Maye (+200).
It will be interesting in Minnesota. Sam Darnold, the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft who is on his fourth NFL team, is priced at -165 to be Minnesota’s starting QB in Week 1 ahead of McCarthy’s +120 odds.
Former starters Sam Howell and Justin Fields have gone from Washington and Chicago to Pittsburgh and Seattle.
Both have their work cut out for them to win the No. 1 job with Russell Wilson (-700) the overwhelming pick to be the top passer for the Steelers and Geno Smith priced at -350 to hold off Howell (+225) to be the name leading the Seattle offense.
Is this the swan song for Daniel Jones with the New York Giants? He is currently at -500 to be the Giants’ QB with veteran Drew Lock at +300.
A Look At the Rookies
Concluding Our 2024 NFL QB Starters Odds Preview: Caleb Williams was not only taken first overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, he has already been named the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears. Will be join the list of the best NFL QB as a rookie?
It remains to be seen if Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders, J.J. McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings, Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos, and Drake Maye of the New England Patriots will be the starting QB for their teams in the season opener.
Williams is priced at +110 to have the most passing yards among the rookie quarterbacks followed by Daniels at +250, McCarthy at +300, Nix at +700, and Maye at +1000.
It is almost the same order when it comes to piling up the most passing touchdowns.
Williams is the leader at +125 in the NFL betting odds followed by McCarthy at +200 (he will be throwing to Justin Jefferson after all), Daniels at +350, Nix at +700, and Maye at +800.
The other quarterback taken in the first round was Michael Penix Jr. However, Kirk Cousins was signed by the Atlanta Falcons to be the starting quarterback so Penix will have to wait.
He is priced at -130 to start at least one game during the regular season so maybe the wait won’t be very long.
Williams is the overwhelming choice at -350 to be on the team that wins the most games with Daniels at +225.
Nix comes in at +150 to be the first rookie starting QB to be benched.
How About the Veterans?
The rookies aren’t going to have all the fun!
Here are some numbers to consider when it comes to the best NFL quarterbacks.
- +125: Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets to have at least 30 touchdown passes.
- +175: Russell Wilson to throw at least 25 touchdown passes.
- +425: Kirk Cousins to pass for 4500 yards.
- +500: Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs to have 5000 passing yards.
- +700: C.J. Stroud to throw for at least 5000 yards in the regular season.
For NFL betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
