Finding Early Value in 2023 NFL Awards
Big Bargains With Offseason Lines
Big Bargains With Offseason Lines
Jumping on NFL lines during the offseason can be a huge advantage. We can get better value before the odds shift as the regular season approaches. Most rosters will not change much in the upcoming months as free agency is nearly wrapped up and the 2023 NFL Draft is far removed.
Several players are in great situations to flourish, leading to potential hardware. Check out some early sport bets for NFL awards that could yield big profits.
Lions Find Playmaking Linebacker?
The Detroit Lion’s defense has featured one of the worst linebacker units in the league for several seasons. They looked to address the need with the No. 18 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, selecting linebacker Jack Campbell of Iowa. The pick received criticism as the Lions drafted Campbell much earlier than most NFL expert picks expected.
However, Campbell has landed in a spot to shine. Priced at +1600 to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, this could be a wager that’s too good to pass on. Campbell showed his versatility as a Hawkeye, recording at least 125 tackles in back-to-back seasons. Plus, he has the range at 6-foot-5 to make pass deflections. More times than not, players need eye-popping stats to win NFL awards. Detroit has plenty of stats to go around with a hole in the middle of its defense. Campbell could stuff the stat sheet in his rookie season.
Seahawks Rookie Could Soar
Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is +700 to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. While this does not offer the same high profits as Campbell for Defensive Rookie of the Year, this could be as high as it gets for Smith-Njigba.
Hey look it’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba pic.twitter.com/wU7Wf4HwiL
— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) May 22, 2023
The Ohio State product should regularly get one-on-one matchups due to DK Metcalf demanding attention on the perimeter. Defenses are also constantly aware of the deep threat of Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. This leaves Smith-Njigba with tons of room to work the middle of the field from the slot. Plus, quarterback Geno Smith comes off an excellent season with 4,282 passing yards and 30 passing touchdowns.
This is reminiscent of when JSN stepped into the starting role at Ohio State in 2021. He had Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave on the perimeter, which led to monster stats for Smith-Njigba (1,606 receiving yards). He could draw more buzz throughout training camp, which would drop his odds. Now is the time to pounce on the +700 line for your NFL predictions.
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Sauce Ready for the Spotlight
Defensive backs winning Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) are rare. In fact, the last to do it was cornerback Stephon Gilmore in 2019. Before that? Safety Troy Polamalu in 2010. Cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner could be in the perfect spot to contend for the award.
Last season, he won Defensive Rookie of the Year and was the first rookie defensive back to make First-Team All-Pro since Ronnie Lott did it in 1981. That’s some elite company. With the Jets adding quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the spotlight will only brighten on Gardner. NFL odds have New York priced at +1400 to win the Super Bowl.
Gardner is already one of football’s top cornerbacks. Heck, he finished eighth in DPOY voting last season. With more eyes on Gardner, he could make a serious push for the award in the 2023 season. Gardner’s +1200 odds to win DPOY could be too intriguing to wait.
Action Jackson Poised for Monster Numbers
Patrick Mahomes (+700), Josh Allen (+800), Joe Burrow (+800), and Jalen Hurts (+800) are the popular NFL picks for the MVP Award. Lamar Jackson is +1600 to win the award. Why are his odds so high? This is another wager that feels like terrific value.
Jackson won MVP in 2019. Most importantly, the Baltimore Ravens made huge upgrades on offense. Since Jackson took over as the franchise QB, the Ravens have lacked targets in the passing game, mainly at wide receiver. He has still put together some incredible seasons thanks to his legs. What happens when you give Jackson a good receiving corps and improved play-calling? We are about to find out.
Day 2 of posting a Lamar Jackson passing highlight until people stop calling him a RB
— 𝘼𝙧𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙘 (@BatesWrld) May 16, 2023
Wide receiver Rashod Bateman showed promise last season and will return fully healthy. Baltimore also added Odell Beckham Jr. via free agency and drafted Zay Flowers in the first round. Todd Monken filled the vacant offensive coordinator position. He has a history of spreading defenses sideline to sideline with speed and utilizes his tight ends well. The Ravens have the tools for Jackson to succeed.
Baltimore was clearly committed to improving its passing attack in the offseason. Jackson is not the best passer in the league by any means, but he is still adequate. This should lead to boosted passing stats for the sixth-year QB, and we know what he can do with his legs. Jackson at +1600 to win MVP is very tempting.
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