Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl Odds Rise and Fall After First Round of NFL Draft
The Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl odds improved dramatically after Thursday's Round 1 of the NFL Draft. It had everything to do with the brand spanking shiny new contract that quarterback Lamar Jackson and the team agreed to before names were called from the podium on Thursday night as well as the No. 22 overall pick for the Ravens.
Just this week the Ravens' odds fell all the way to +2800 on the heels of news that the team and Jackson were still worlds apart in contract talks.
But earlier on Thursday, the Ravens and the 2019 NFL MVP finally agreed to a five-year, $260 million deal that will keep Jackson in Baltimore under a long-term deal.
Then, Thursday night, the team gave Jackson another weapon by drafting Boston College wideout Zay Flowers at No. 22 overall. Flower’s arrival provides Jackson with an electric target that can turn a short catch into a big gainer with his "yards-after-catch" ability, and the speed to track down a deep ball.
Adding Flowers to the wide receiver corps that already includes Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor among others, gives Jackson an arsenal that he hasn't seen in his time in the NFL.
While at Boston College, Flowers caught 200 passes for 3,056 yards and 29 touchdowns. He also ran the ball 57 times for 345 yards and an additional two touchdowns.
The inconsistencies that the Ravens had on offense in previous seasons appear to have been dealt with and should not be a problem moving forward.
And it appears that the betting public thinks the addition of Flowers could provide an immediate impact as the team's Super Bowl 58 odds went from +2800 to +1200 in just a few short hours.
Will it pay off either on the field or in the wallet? That remains to be seen.
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