The Las Vegas Raiders remain in last place in the betting odds to win the AFC West in 2022 despite another huge move on Wednesday.
The silver and black finally locked up QB Derek Carr for three more years, handing the more Fresno State standout an extension through 2025 worth more than $121million.
AFC West arms race
It is the latest move in a big offseason for the division, which saw a massive arms race develop:
- Denver traded for Seattle QB Russell Wilson with a blockbusting package
- The Raiders gave up first and second-round picks for Green Bay WR Davante Adams
- The Raiders signed Arizona pass rusher Chandler Jones for $52.5million over three years
- The Chargers traded for Chicago’s superstar pass rusher Khalil Mack
- Not content with getting Mack, the Chargers paid former Pats CB J.C. Jackson $82.5million to sign with them
- The Kansas City Chiefs arguably got weaker in the short-term by trading away their star wideout Tyreek Hill to Miami.
The net result of all this might surprise you – the Chiefs are still favorite to win what might now be pro football’s best division in 2022. And the Raiders? They are still the underdog.
Odds to win the division
KC is the +160 market leader with DraftKings, while the Chargers – looking to capitalize on that cheap rookie deal for their young QB stud Justin Herbert – are second best at +275 with bet365.
Denver, despite the trade for Wilson, is third best at +300 (again with bet365) while the Raiders remain way off the pace at +700.
If you think those odds are enormous, consider this. At least the sportsbooks are taking Las Vegas way more seriously than they did in early 2021. Then the Raiders were a massive +2200 to win the West.
We argued then they were overpriced, and we were proved right when they clinched a surprise playoff berth.
Can they do the same in 2022? The jury is out, but the decision to extend Carr is logical and the only one new HC Josh McDaniels could realistically make. Now we just get the popcorn ready and wait for Fall.