An Early Look At Super Bowl 57 Odds
Before this season started, the Los Angeles Rams were at +1500 to win the Super Bowl, and the Cincinnati Bengals were at +12000. With Super Bowl 56 set, all but two franchises are looking to next season already. It is not just franchises though, as the championship odds for Super Bowl 57 have been released. With the NFL Draft, free agency, and preseason still to come, these early odds are bound to change in some way. However, it’s insightful to gauge how these teams are measured in their current state.
Big Movers – Super Bowl 56 Odds vs. Super Bowl 57 Odds
The biggest mover is by far the Bengals. Their surprise Super Bowl run is one of the most unlikely events in the NFL the past twenty years. The Buccaneers have unsurprisingly taken a step back and dropped significantly. Tom Brady’s retirement will have a tremendous ripple effect across the league, but the Buccaneers are hurt the most for obvious reasons. Kyler Murray’s emergence has pushed the Cardinals to rocket up the leaderboard; his connection with Deandre Hopkins was deadly this season. Outside of those franchises, the odds are not too different. The Chiefs, Bills, Packers, Ravens, and 49ers are all near the top again, while the Lions, Jets, and Jaguars remain long shots.
Super Bowl 57 Odds
Early Super Bowl 57 Values
The three teams I like the most are the Bills, 49ers, and Chargers. The Bills are tied with the Chiefs, but their overall situation is more appealing to me. Josh Allen proved his place among the best quarterbacks in the NFL and should have moved on to the AFC Championship game, where I think they beat the Bengals. The Allen to Diggs connection is electric, but the development of tight end Dawson Knox gives the Bills a huge red zone threat. They are right around the salary cap line, so they will not have to make major roster adjustments. Overall, the Bills already have a championship roster; they just need to finish out the season.
The 49ers are moving on from Jimmy Garoppolo and ushering in the Trey Lance era. While I do not expect him to have a season like Patrick Mahomes did in 2018, he has the arm talent to raise the 49ers ceiling. Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, and Elijah Mitchell will be back. The defense still has Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Arik Armstead, and Jimmie Ward to stifle opponents. The 49ers lost by 3 points in the NFC Championship Game with a mediocre quarterback; if Lance blossoms, the 49ers should be considered as a top three contender.
Finally, I like the Los Angeles Chargers because of their value. They are not a top 10 team according to DraftKings, but their offseason potential is great. Mike Williams is a free agent, but the Chargers are projected to have the 2nd most cap space in the league at around $57 million. Their run defense needs to be improved, but with the 17th pick in the draft, it is feasible that Jordan Davis from Georgia will be available. Justin Herbert’s accuracy and poise makes him one of the best quarterbacks in the game. Keenan Allen and Austin Ekeler are elite offensive weapons. The Chargers can improve their roster in free agency by upgrading their offensive line or defense. Joey Bosa and Derwin James are electric on defense, Kyzir White is a tackling machine. While the Chargers do not have the best roster of the three listed, they have the most opportunity to improve over the offseason.
Overrated Super Bowl 57 Values
Two teams who have overrated championship odds are the Packers, Cowboys, and Ravens. The Packers are ahead of teams such as the Titans, Chargers, and Cardinals, but their future looks hazy. Aaron Rodgers likely played his last snap for the Packers, and Davante Adams is a free agent looking for a huge contract. The Packers are projected to be way over the salary cap and financial maneuvering must be done. Without Rodgers or Adams, the Packers are longshots to win the Super Bowl. Even if they had the same roster as this past season (which will not happen), I would not pick them over many teams.
Look, the Cowboys are a decent team. CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper, and Michael Gallup can create separation. Dak is not an elite quarterback realistically, but he is talented. Micah Parsons already is a top linebacker in the game. However, their odds do not hold enough value for me. They are counting on the defense to take a step forward and for Dak to play at an elite level. With a messy salary situation, the depth chart does not have much room to improve through free agency. If they were at around +2000-2500, then I would consider choosing them. However, they have not shown me enough to believe their stars can perform in crunch time.
The Ravens right now are not talented enough to win the Super Bowl. Lamar Jackson puts tremendous pressure on the defense with his ability to throw or run. Harbaugh knows how to coach, and Justin Tucker will make every field goal in the playoffs. Marquise Brown and Mark Andrews are formidable weapons, but they are no Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. Even with those positives, the Ravens need to add talent on both offense and defense. There is too much work that needs to be done considering the cap space they will have. Also, the Ravens will potentially have to go through Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, or Joe Burrow in the playoffs. The Ravens at their current odds are not appealing to me, especially with the Chargers sitting there with more value.