Many NFL teams have been holding their first mandatory training camp of the season over the last few days, while others have been busy making additional signings to their roster, or securing current players on fresh deals.
Of course, there’s always a myriad of stories coming out of the various camps at this time of the year, so we’re going to focus on as many as we can and give you how that news may have affected any betting markets available with FanDuel Sportsbook.
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McLaurin Sits Out Mandatory Camp Seeking Fresh Deal With Commanders
Having watched several of his positional colleagues in the NFL earn mega deals this
summer, Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin has, unsurprisingly, opted out of attending the Commanders camp this week.
The wide receiver had attended workouts earlier in the spring and with his rookie deal expiring at the end of this season, which will earn him around $2.79m in base salary, he is keen to be paid like other wide receiver talents this season.
A.J.Brown, traded to the Philadelphia Eagles on draft day, signed a four-year extension with the Eagles worth $25 million per season. He was drafted a round earlier than McLaurin in the 2019 draft.
Other WRs to receive big paydays this summer include Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams, Stefon Diggs and Cooper Kupp.
McLaurin isn’t alone in seeking a new deal. Seahawks DK Metcalf and the 49ers Deebo Samuel, who requested a trade earlier in the year, are two more receivers on the lookout for a big payday.
The fact that McLaurin was so consistent despite Washington having issues at quarterback and a lack of support, means that while he may not command Cooper Kupp money, he should be in line for a deal perhaps in the region of what A.J.Brown received from the Eagles.
With Jahan Dotson drafted in to help McLaurin at receiver and the return of Curtis
Samuel and Logan Thomas, keeping the talented wideout is going to be key to Ron Rivera’s plans this season.
McLaurin will likely get his wish in Washington and the Commanders will be keen to get him on the field sooner rather than later so he can develop some chemistry with incoming QB Carson Wentz.
The Commanders are +7000 to win the Super Bowl this year and +3100 to be the NFC Champions. They are +450 to win the NFC East, behind the Cowboys (+115) and Eagles (+210).
AFC & NFC West The Most Open Divisions In The NFL?
If you want some great value betting odds on a team to win their division in the NFL,
then in the words of Horace Greeley “Go West!”
The NFC West features the current Super Bowl Winners, the Los Angeles Rams, but they also have in that division two playoff teams from last season, the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers and while the Seahawks are probably a little way off the other three teams in this division, they are still more than capable of beating any of them on any given Sunday.
You can get better than even money odds on all the teams in the NFC West, with the Rams the +130 favorites to win the division ahead of the 49ers (+190) and the Cardinals (+320) and the Seahawks are the +1300 rank outsiders.
However, things are even tighter in the ultra-competitive AFC West next season and I don’t think I have seen a division that is so packed with talent across the board as this one for many a year.
The Kansas City Chiefs top the betting as the +155 favorites with FanDuel, but the
Chargers (+240) and Broncos (+260) are reckoned to be serious contenders too, while you cannot write the Raiders out of the equation just yet either as they are +700 to win the division.
In a division featuring the QB talents of Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Russell Wilson and Derek Carr, this could certainly be the most exciting and unpredictable division in the NFL next season.
And if you are looking for good value odds on a divisional winner, then both of these divisions probably offer you the best option.
NFL News In A Sentence
- Dallas Cowboys Tight End Dalton Schulz has signed his franchise tag but talks of
Courtesy Wikimedia Commons CC BY SA 3.0 a new contract have picked up in recent days, which saw him return to minicamp last week.
- Eagles new WR A.J.Brown angered a number of his former Titans fans when he claimed on Twitter he was the best WR in the Tennessee franchise history, with many Titans fans pointing out his figures are nowhere near replicating those of Derrick Mason.
- The Los Angeles Rams are believed to be interested in re-signing Odell Beckham Jr. once the wideout has recovered from his ACL injury.
- The New York Jets have been receiving a lot of cash from punters believing that they can do significantly better than the odds on them in the AFC East suggest.
Check back later in the summer for more NFL round up and news.
