Betting odds released for worst NFL team in 2024

Here’s a huge hint as to how oddsmakers predict which teams will be the worst in the NFL this coming season. If there’s a new guy at quarterback, bet that.

So we’re looking at you Patriots with your new quarterback and new head coach. Same for the Broncos. Or, we can tweak the term to newish, which brings the Panthers and Titans into the mix. Carolina, with only two wins in 2023, is the reigning worst team in the NFL. It got so bad for the Panthers, that despite owning the worst record, they didn’t even get to pick first in the 2024 NFL Draft. Instead, the Bears received the honor because of a trade they made last year after Chicago finished as the worst.

So let’s get down to the lines. These are the odds, according to Fox Sports, for an NFL team to finish last. Think of it as predicting the anti-Super Bowl.

New England Patriots: +340

The Patriots, the one-time finest organization in the league, are starting over. So it makes sense that oddsmakers believe they could struggle this season and be the worst team in the NFL. However, new coach Jerod Mayo is hoping for a better debut.

New England selected former North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye with the third pick of April’s NFL Draft. But Maye not be the starter when the season kicks off. The Patriots also have veteran Jacoby Brissett to give Maye time to marinate.

Carolina Panthers: +550

The Panthers selected Bryce Young with the first pick of last year’s draft. So Young was at the helm of last year’s worst NFL team. The former Alabama star was sacked 62 times, the most for any league quarterback in a decade. Can we get a collective ouch?

But Carolina changed coaches, hiring Dave Canales, who is known as a quarterback whisperer. Plus, the Panthers added talent around Young. Carolina traded with the Steelers for receiver Diontae Johnson. They then paid big money to add offensive linemen Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis. On the first day of the draft, the Panthers traded into the first round to draft South Carolina receiver Xavier Legette, followed by former Texas Longhorn Jonathon Brooks, the top running back on the board.

Denver Broncos: +600

Broncos head coach Sean Payton needs to make a decision on a quarterback. Because as the old adage goes, if you have three starting quarterbacks, you really have none. (We kid).

Through OTAs and minicamp, Payton gave three different quarterbacks reps with the first team. The Broncos released Russell Wilson in March. Payton can choose from Jarrett Stidham, who filled in for Wilson last season. Or, the Broncos could go with Zach Wilson, who arrived in Denver via trade with the Jets. Or maybe they opt for rookie Bo Nix, the former Oregon standout, who was the 12th pick of April’s first round. No wonder oddsmakers place the Broncos as one of the favorites for the worst team in the NFL.

Tennessee Titans: +800

The Titans like Will Levis, the second-year player who replaced Ryan Tannehill as the starter at mid-season in 2023. But why lump them into the NFL worst team category?

Tennessee allowed superstar running back Derrick Henry to leave, with Henry signing with the Ravens. Brian Callahan is the new head coach. And the former offensive coordinator with the Bengals fortified the Titans by signing receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd in free agency to give Levis’ more options than just DeAndre Hopkins. Tennessee also added former Cowboys running back Tony Pollard. They polished it off by selecting Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham with the seventh pick of the draft.

New York Giants: +1000

Remember when we said that oddsmakers are concentrating on young quarterbacks to predict the NFL’s worst team? With the Giants, the main concern may be about an experienced quarterback playing without the star tailback.

The Giants allowed running back Saquon Barkley to leave. (He signed with the Eagles, the Giants NFC East rivals). New York’s quarterback will be either Daniel Jones, who missed much of last season because of injuries, or Drew Lock, who started games with both the Broncos and Seahawks. Rather than quarterback, the Giants opted for Malik Nabers, a play-making receiver, with the sixth pick of April’s draft. As for Barkley’s replacement, Devin Singletary will get first shot.

Other top candidates for NFL’s worst team

Washington Commanders: +1100
Minnesota Vikings: +1100
Las Vegas Raiders: +1200
Arizona Cardinals: +1700
Pittsburgh Steelers: + 2000
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: +2200
Seattle Seahawks: +2200
New Orleans Saints: +2500
Indianapolis Colts: +2500
Cleveland Browns: +4000

Remember, odds in July in regards to which team is best or the worst in the NFL tend to be meaningless once the season starts. They’re a snapshot. And if you’d like to see more of said snapshot, check out the Fox Sports story here. And with some training camps starting next week, you can catch up on all your NFL news from On3.com here.