How Super Bowl Futures Have Changed Before And After The NFL Draft

The NFL Draft has come and gone, and it’s clear that a few teams really helped themselves in the three-day event over the weekend. You can read all of the draft grades from the experts in the mainstream media but in this article, we’re taking a look at things from a betting perspective. The betting odds have shifted around at the best sportsbooks from before the draft started until where we are now. Let’s take a look at four of the biggest movers to get an idea of who the oddsmakers think did the best.

San Francisco 49ers

Before: +1200

Now: +900

The 49ers were previously among the favorites but their odds have shortened even more after a successful draft. Using their first first-round pick, they grabbed Javon Kinlaw of South Carolina to bolster what is an already-deep and powerful defensive line. The Niners had a nasty defensive front last season and while they traded away All-Pro DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts (needed the salary cap flexibility), they probably won’t experience a huge drop-off because they plugged that hole with Kinlaw. San Francisco is going to have an overwhelmingly strong defense – maybe the best in the NFC – which will make the Niners extremely hard to beat. The offense won’t have to be great because the defense is probably going to do most of the work for this team in the coming season. 

Yet, the 49ers didn’t focus solely on defense. They took receiver Brandon Aiyuk with a first-round pick and gained offensive tackle Trent Williams from the Washington Redskins to compensate for tackle Joe Staley announcing his retirement from the NFL. Aiyuk is a yards-after-catch monster who will be a fun new toy for head coach Kyle Shanahan to work with. Meanwhile, Williams was one of the best tackles in the NFL before he sat out last season, so this is a big boost for the 49ers. San Francisco has accounted for some of its losses and made replacements in various areas of need. This is why the Niners have improved their Super Bowl odds.

Dallas Cowboys

Before: +2800

Now: +2200

While a lot of people were worried what Jerry Jones would do from his yacht, the Cowboys had a brilliant draft from top-to-bottom. They continued to make good-value picks at each stage of the draft, significantly enhancing their roster. CeeDee Lamb is the explosive receiver the Cowboys needed and Dallas grabbed him in the first round. He was expected to be the first wide receiver off the board. Instead, he was somehow third and the Cowboys snapped him up.

As for their second-round pick, they scooped up Trevon Diggs, the younger brother of Buffalo Bills wideout Stefon Diggs. Trevon was viewed as a first-rounder by many scouts, so the Cowboys got great value there too.

Later in the draft, the Cowboys also got Oklahoma pass rusher, Neville Gallimore, in the third round, they got a nasty Wisconsin offensive lineman, Tyler Biadasz, in the fourth round, and they got a very good Utah pass rusher, Bradlee Anae, in the fifth round. They found good players at every stage of the draft and have built in some cheaper options for a high-dollar roster which needed reinforcements. They are definitely a much better team after the draft.

Minnesota Vikings

Before: +3300

Now: +2200

The Vikings had a tremendous draft. They got the receiver Kirk Cousins needed: Justin Jefferson. Remember, they traded away Diggs and weren’t really expecting to see Jefferson on the board when they were drafting. Instead, he fell to them and they got great value.

They also got two well-regarded cornerbacks in the top 90 picks, a necessary reaction to losing Xavier Rhodes to the Indianapolis Colts and having to shore up their secondary. They got Baylor defensive tackle James Lynch and Oregon linebacker Troy Dye, two good players on teams which played in major bowl games this past college football season. The Vikings stockpiled a ton of picks on Day 3 of the draft and loaded up at cornerback and offensive line, while also adding a receiver as well. In quality and volume, the Vikings filled all their needs. There really wasn’t a weak point in this 2020 draft for them.

Los Angeles Chargers

Before: +5000

Now: +4000

The Chargers drafted Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert with the No. 6 pick in the first round. Some people love Herbert and others don’t, but know this much: the last time the Chargers picked a quarterback from the University of Oregon, it worked out really well. The quarterback’s name: Dan Fouts. He merely led the Chargers to multiple AFC Championship Games and earned a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. If the Herbert pick works out, the Chargers are definitely in business. 

The Chargers also traded back into the first round to select Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray. There are mixed ratings on him but the bottom line here is they needed help at inside linebacker. It’s one of the few weaknesses on a very good defense. This might plug that hole.