Oddsmakers Say No QB’s go in Top-15; Steelers Get Their Wish

[Steeler Nation]

Draft day is here for the NFL and the Pittsburgh Steelers, and there’s been a lot of debate swirling around the quarterbacks in this draft class. For a while, the expectation was that Malik Willis would be the first quarterback off the board at #2. Then it was Kenny Pickett at #6. Now that draft day is here, oddsmakers don’t believe either goes top-15, let alone top-10.

Liberty quarterback, Malik Willis (left) #7, and Pitt quarterback, Kenny Pickett (right) #8. | Photo via SI.com


Pickett is expected to be drafted by a team with an earlier pick. Oddsmakers give oddsmakers +200 odds or an implied 33.3% that he goes to the New Orleans Saints with either the Saints’ 16th or 19th selection. If not the Saints, then they believe the Carolina Panthers are still an option at +250, or an implied 28.6% chance. The Panthers are more likely on a trade back than at 6, as oddsmakers have Charles Cross as the favorite to go 6th overall at +350, Pickett is +400 to go at 6.

What this means for the Steelers​

That means oddsmakers believe the Steelers get their wish for a second straight year, as Willis falls right into their lap. The Steelers are given +125 odds, or an implied 44.4% chance to draft Willis. If not them, oddsmakers believe there’s a chance the Saints go with Willis at +300, or an implied 25% chance. That’s a result of the possibility that the Panthers make a move for Pickett.

Quote from OddsChecker spokesman Kyle Newman:

“The market here is so confused. It’s true that oddsmakers believe that Pickett has a better chance to be drafted by teams with a higher selection. However, they also believe that Willis is going to be the first quarterback selected. He’s given -200 odds, or an implied 66.7% chance to be the first quarterback off the board. The only way that works is if the Steelers plan on trading up for Willis. So, will we see a big draft-day move by a team that’s usually not very aggressive?”

FIRST QB DRAFTED ODDS​

Quarterback	Odds	Implied chance
Malik Willis	-200	66.7%
Kenny Pickett	+200	33.3%
Desmond Ridder	+1000	9.1%

For more information on these odds, click here.



Do yinz think a quarterback will be selected within the first 15 picks? And would you be happy if the Steelers selected Willis in the first round without having to trade for him? Click to comment below!

#SteelerNation

*This article has been brought to you by OddsChecker​

Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..

 

[Sarge]

And would you be happy if the Steelers selected Willis

I don’t know who writes the articles for this site, but I am thinking they don’t read this site.

 

[MemphisSteelerFan]

Washington
LA Chargers
Philly
NO Saints

I think those are the picks left in front of us. Would any of them take a QB? Figure Chargers-no, but the rest??