Oddsmakers Unimpressed By Patriots Draft: Super Bowl LVIII Longshot?

After selecting a kicker and a punter in the draft, the New England Patriots are saddled with the worst Super Bowl odds in the AFC East.

While Deion Sanders and some NFL analysts are giving the New England Patriots high grades for their selections in last weekend's draft, oddsmakers aren't being quite so kind.

In fact, in reaction to the their 12 draft picks - which peculiarly included a kicker and a punter - the Patriots' Super Bowl LVIII odds steadied at best, but plummeting at worst. Oddsmakers like the first-round pick of Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez, but ultimately were unimpressed that New England failed to provide quarterback Mac Jones and the offense with new weaponry in the form of receivers.

The Patriots selected two receivers - LSU's Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas of Liberty - but not until the sixth round.

Said Red Rock Resort (Nevada) sportsbook director Chuck Esposito, "The Patriots just find themselves in the wrong division now."

In reaction to the draft, the Kansas City Chiefs remain the favorite to win next Super Bowl played in Las Vegas with odds of +600 (meaning a $100 bet would win $600). After drafting seeming the entire Georgia defense from its 2021 national championship team, the Philadelphia Eagles moved from +900 to +850 to make them the clear-cut NFC favorite.

The biggest mover was the Houston Texans, who orchestrated a bold move to draft quarterback C.J. Stroud and edge-rusher Will Anderson. Before the draft Houston's odds were +18,000; now +11,000.

The teams taking the biggest plunges were the Washington Commanders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals and Patriots. At some sportsbooks, New England rose to as much of +10,000 longshot.

AFC EAST SUPER BOWL LVIII ODDS

Buffalo Bills                     +900

New York Jets               +1,400

Miami Dolphins            +2,500

New England Patriots  +5,500

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