Raiders fullback Marcus Mariota is the favorite to be the Patriots’ starting quarterback in Week 1 of the 2021 season, according to SportsBetting.com.
The site mentions the odds at 5/2 (+250). The move comes as rumors swirl around the market ahead of the opening of the new league year on March 17.
Mariota is still under contract with the Raiders. After spending the first five seasons of his career with the Titans, he signed a two-year, $ 17.6 million contract with Las Vegas before the 2020 season.
But the Raiders do not have enough headroom, and the move from Mariota could give the team more room to maneuver. They re-signed Nathan Peterman, who was behind Derek Carr and Mariota, on the Raiders’ depth map in 2020. Mariota will receive $ 10.75 million for next season.
Mariota appeared only once last season, when Carr came off with a groin injury in the first quarter of the Raiders’ Week 15 game against the Chargers. He put up a solid performance, throwing for 226 yards, an attack and an interception, adding 88 yards on the ground and another offense that ended up being a 30-27 overtime loss.
Right behind Mariota on the list of favorite games is Colts fullback Jacoby Brissett, who is indicated with a 7/2 chance. Brissett is a free agent in 2021, so a reunion with the Patriots is possible.
After Brissett started for Indianapolis in 2019, he supported Philip Rivers in 2020. He played in 11 games, mostly in short situations. During his four years at Indianapolis, Brissett set an 11-19 record as an appetizer, throwing for 6,059 yards, 31 touchdowns and 13 distinctions.
Jarrett Stidham (4/1), Cam Newton (5/1) and a rookie fullback (5/1) finish the top five.
Stidham has two more years left on his rookie contract with the Patriots. Newton will be a free agent when the league year starts in March, but said earlier this week he would be interested in returning to New England.
Among the potential rookie backs, Mac Jones is the choice of many draft experts. Former Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis recently begged his former employer to take Jones’ draft in April.
SportsBetting.com’s chances of who the Patriots’ starting lineup will be are in week 1 of next season a total of 26 fullbacks, including long shots like Ben Roethlisberger, Dak Prescott and Matt Ryan.
You can see the whole list here:
Marcus Mariota 5/2
Jacoby Brissett 7/2
Jarrett Stidham 4/1
Cam Newton 5/1
Rookie quarter (1/1)
Blaine Gabbert 7/1
Andy Dalton 8/1
Deshaun Watson 10/1
Brian Hoyer 12/1
Joe Flacco 15/1
Mike Glennon 15/1
Jimmy Garoppolo 15/1
Blake Bortles 20/1
Colt McCoy 20/1
Tyrod Taylor 20/1
Ryan Fitzpatrick 20/1
Sam Darnold 25/1
Geno Smith 25/1
Robert Griffin III 25/1
Matt Barkley 30/1
Mitchell Trubisky 40/1
Jake Dolegala 40/1
Dak Prescott 50/1
Jameis Winston 50/1
Ben Roethlisberger 60/1
Matt Ryan 70/1