Exclusive; Bears QB Justin Fields Betting Favorite to Start for Vikings Week 1
There’s a new favorite to start for the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1, but it’s a quarterback the team is already familiar with.
On Thursday, March 8, sportsbook BetOnline listed Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields as center Minnesota’s opener at odds of 3-1, according to Alex Shapiro of NBC Sports Chicago. Next on the list was Trey Lance, currently with the Dallas Cowboys, with odds of 4-1. The site has Josh Dobbs at No. 3 on the list and “any rookie QB” at No. 4 with odds of 5-1. “The sportsbook also notes that the ‘vast majority of Vikings QB bets’ were placed on Fields, which could be one reason why Fields’ chances of taking the Minnesota job have decreased. ,” Shapiro wrote. “It’s also worth noting that Fields is a popular pick by many other teams. He is listed at 4/1 odds to start for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1. Projections suggest he will start at 5/1 for the Atlanta Falcons. »
Kirk Cousins is not listed in BetOnline odds for the Vikings to start Week 1.
An interesting player left out of BetOnline’s odds is sixth-year rookie Kirk Cousins. The longer Cousins goes without a new contract from Minnesota, the more likely he is to hit the open market on March 13th. That would make him the most sought-after cornerback in free agency, meaning the amount of money the Vikings would have to offer/guarantee a QB to sign him would increase. A full dollar guarantee is already a deadlock in negotiations, and a team that wins now could cross a threshold that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah cannot cross. Head coach Kevin O’Connell’s latest comments regarding Cousins’ situation suggest an attempt to soften the blow for Cousins, who ultimately left the organization as a free agent. “He’s earned the right to be a free agent,” O’Connell said in an interview with NFL Network last week. “We hope we’re not the only ones who want to see Kirk Cousins start for the team in 2024.”
Justin Fields trade rumors with NFL Steelers Bears
If Fields turns out to be a Minnesota player, the Vikings would have to trade him to make that happen. Fields’ market has plummeted since the merger, and Chicago is now likely to wait for some of the major free agent dominoes to fall before reevaluating. However, the Bears still want value in a second-round trade for Fields, and will likely get it if they remain patient enough. So it’s natural to expect that any deal the Vikings make to acquire a three-year starter from a division rival would cost them the No. 42 overall pick in April. That’s a talented QB who has struggled to develop as a passer at the NFL level, despite having serious weaknesses in holding the ball too long and frequently making questionable decisions when pushing the ball. It may seem like a high price to pay. field. . However, if the New England Patriots move up from No. 11 to No. 3 overall in the rookie draft, Minnesota could lose as many as three first-round picks. In comparison, Fields is incredibly affordable and has the potential to excite offensive coaches like O’Connell. Fields enters the final season of his four-year rookie contract in 2024, but has a built-in team option for a fifth year, extending his contract through 2025 for $25.7 million.
