The majority of the 32 starting quarterback jobs have been settled early in training camps across the NFL, with only four legitimate competitions still being waged.
Of those, who replaces Russell Wilson under center in Seattle remains the tightest race among oddsmakers.
Geno Smith, who is entering his fourth season with the Seahawks, is the -175 favorite by SportsBetting.ag to start Week 1 at quarterback. He is battling Drew Lock (+135), who was acquired in the Wilson trade over the offseason.
Although Smith has spent more time with the starting unit thus far in training camp, neither quarterback has particularly impressed ahead of the first preseason game. And coach Pete Carroll has declined to outline the team’s plan for splitting repetitions during camp.
“Any time that I’m standing behind the center and I get to call out a cadence that’s the most important rep of my life, right then and there,” Lock told reporters earlier this week. “I compete with everything I’ve got, every single play.
“We’ll let time evolve and see where it goes from there.”
The second-closest race is in Pittsburgh, where veteran backup Mason Rudolph isn’t even in the picture as far as the oddsmakers are concerned. The sportsbook is offering free-agent addition Mitchell Trubisky as the -250 favorite over rookie first-round pick Kenny Pickett (+175).
Meanwhile, something major would have to transpire to change the trajectory of who is poised to kick off the season as the starter in Atlanta and Carolina. Marcus Mariota is in line to start for the Falcons and recently acquired Baker Mayfield is set with the Panthers.
Week 1 Starting QB Odds
Seattle Seahawks
–Geno Smith -175
–Drew Lock +135
Pittsburgh Steelers
–Mitchell Trubisky -250
–Kenny Pickett +170
Carolina Panthers
–Baker Mayfield -1500
–Sam Darnold +600
Atlanta Falcons
–Marcus Mariota -1200
–Desmond Ridder +550
–Field Level Media
