Will Sam Darnold Trade Affect Jets, Panthers Odds?

• The New York Jets have agreed to a deal that will send quarterback Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for future draft picks.
• The New York Jets are listed at +10000 odds to win Super Bowl 56.
• The Carolina Panthers have +6600 odds to win SB 56 after acquiring Sam Darnold via trade.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The NFL offseason has been one of the busiest ones in recent memory as teams across the league are positioning themselves to be a team to bet on to win Super Bowl 56.

With the transaction-heavy offseason, The New York Jets traded former No. 2 overall pick Sam Darnold after agreeing to a deal with the Carolina Panthers on Monday.

Who won this trade for Sam Darnold? pic.twitter.com/quavEY2Az4

— PFF (@PFF) April 5, 2021

ThePanthers have been very aggressive in trying to upgrade the quarterback position this offseason as they were active in the Matthew Stafford and Deshaun Watson trade talks. Carolina acquiring Darnold means the team has a young quarterback under center for at least this season while still holding onto the No. 8 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

With the Jets moving on from Darnold, it’s clear what the team will do with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, which many believe will be used to select BYU Cougars quarterback Zach Wilson or Ohio State Buckeyes product Justin Fields, either way, the Jets will be selecting a quarterback with the second pick.

While the quarterback position for the Jets is in somewhat limbo the Panthers might have found their quarterback of the future and have reunited him with a familiar face in Robby Anderson, who played with Darnold during his first two seasons in New York.

Robby Anderson on @gmfb talking Sam Darnold.

“I was surprised when they trade was announced. I had some great chemistry with Sam and think his development was not correct with the Jets. Didn’t have the best coaching or supporting cast.” pic.twitter.com/Z1vsrASBD3

— Cat Crave (@CatCraveBlog) April 6, 2021

The ripple effects from the Jets-Panthers trade have likely changed the draft strategy for some teams but as far as the Super Bowl betting odds are aligned the Panthers and Jets have seen minimal movement on their futures odds at Bovada.

Carolina Panthers (+6600)

The Carolina Panthers might be the biggest winners from this trade; they received a quarterback that they can further develop going forward while maintaining flexibility in the upcoming draft. The Panthers will allow Teddy Bridgewater to find a team that will trade for him or he’ll have to take a pay cut to remain with the team.

Adding Darnold hasn’t moved the Super Bowl betting odds for the Panthers but they will be a more competitive team during the regular season which means Carolina could win bettors some money at sportsbooks. With the quarterback position filled the Panthers can now use their first-round pick to add talent to their defense or help their offensive line as both positions need major help.

While the +6600 odds on the Panthers winning the Super Bowl are a longshot, betting on the team weekly will be the best play. Acquiring Darnold and not giving up a first-round pick at all is a major steal for the Panthers who look to continue to improve under second-year head coach Matt Rhule.

New York Jets (+10000)

The New York Jets and Darnold parting ways was inevitable especially as the team seems locked in on making Zach Wilson the second player taken in the draft. Coming into the season the Jets were longshots to win the Super Bowl and after trading Darnold remain in that same position at +10000 odds.

New York under first-year head coach Robert Saleh will need to change the culture of the organization and that likely won’t be done this season especially with a rookie quarterback under center. The Jets are a team whose Super Bowl betting odds shouldn’t be considered until after the NFL Draft.

Even after the draft, the Jets have some serious holes to fill on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball as Saleh and company have a lot of work to do to get this team back in playoff contention. If looking to bet on the Jets this season it should be purely matchup-based as this is not a team that will win a lot of games no matter who is under center.