Even though excitement reigns with the NBA Playoffs, the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the Triple Crown of horse racing, the NFL takes a backseat to nobody. Check out what happened this week in the sports league that never sleeps!
NFL Updates of the Week – May 10th Edition
‘Updated Super Bowl Odds Favor Patriots, Chiefs, Rams and Saints
The Patriots are slight favorites over the Los Angeles Rams to win Super Bowl 54. New England is at +700 to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The Rams are at +750. Both those teams are favored over the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs. Both the Saints and Chiefs are at +800.
Why has New England become the favorite to win back-to-back Super Bowls? The easy answer is because they’re the Patriots. They’re always good. The real answer is because they had a fantastic draft. They might have had the best draft of any team in the NFL.
The Patriots made smart choices with all 7 of their draft picks. They may have gotten a future starting quarterback in Jarrett Stidham, a day one starter along the offensive line in Yodny Cajuste, and their next great wide receiver in N’Keal Harry. Plus, they bolstered the offensive line and drafted a solid running back in Alabama player Damien Harris.
That’s the reason the Patriots are now the outright favorites to win the Super Bowl. The reason the Kansas City Chiefs are now even with the Saints at +800 to win the Super Bowl is because they’re in danger of losing Tyreek Hill. An audio recording surfaced where Hill appears to threaten his girlfriend with domestic abuse. He also discusses abusing his child.
Because of the audio recording, the Chiefs had to use their first pick on wide receiver Mercole Hardman instead of helping their defense. KC should score points at will. Unless something changes on the defense, they might have trouble stopping opponents from scoring at will. Super Bowl future bettors know this, which is why they’re slowly moving away from the Chiefs.
Indianapolis Colts are Biggest Super Bowl Odds Movers
The team that has gotten hot in Super Bowl futures are the Indianapolis Colts. By the time training camps break, the Colts should be at +1000 odds. Indianapolis had another solid draft. Of their 10 picks, they drafted 7 defensive players, a wide receiver, a center, and an offensive tackle.
None of the 7 players must start although Temple cornerback Rock Ya-Sin could. All 7 will provide excellent depth on an up and coming defense. Not only that, but the Colts might have made a steal by drafting WR Parris Campbell. The 6’0” Ohio State player ran a ridiculous 4.31 40-yeard dash at the combine.
Both he and T.Y. Hilton can fly. That should leave the middle wide open for free agent Devin Funchess and tight-end Eric Ebron. Andrew Luck could have a monster season under center.
Cardinals Sign Murray to Massive Deal
The Arizona Cardinals signed the top pick in the NFL Draft, quarterback Kyler Murray, this week. Murray signed for a four-year deal worth $35,158,644. The Cardinals added a fifth-year option on the deal. The entire $35,158,644 is guaranteed.
It’s a good move for Murray, maybe not so much for the Cardinals. Murray is only 5’10”. Not only that, but he played a single season in college as a starter. The real problem could actually be his weight instead of his height.
Murray weighs 207 pounds. Because he’s not a drop back passer, there’s a chance he gets hit way more than a small quarterback like Drew Brees. Many compare Murray to Russell Wilson, but Russell is a drop back passer that weighs 215 pounds.
It should be interesting to see if Murray can translate his game to the pro-level. The Cardinals feel finding out the answer is worth $35,158,644.
Seahawks Cut a Couple of Players from the Super Bowl Year
Seattle turned the page on a couple of key players from their 2014 Super Bowl year. They released both safety Kam Chancellor and wide receiver Doug Baldwin. Seattle drafted D.K. Metcalf in Round 2.
They must feel that Metcalf can take Baldwin’s place. They also drafted safety Marquise Blair in Round 2. Blair mustn’t start. He should prove to be a valuable backup to starter Tevin Thompson, though. In any case, like what Saints’ coach Sean Payton has said, you can never have “too many good players” at the safety positions.
Why cut Chancellor and Baldwin? Both have missed significant time the past couple of seasons due to injuries. Chancellor most likely won’t play against. Baldwin could play again. If he’s willing to hit the gridiron for just above the league minimum, many teams will want a sure-handed wide receiver like Baldwin.
Have a great week!
