Dolphins Still Favored to Pick 1st in 2020 NFL Draft; Redskins Given Short +250 Odds

• See the updated odds on which NFL team will pick first in the 2020 draft
• The Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Redskins, and Denver Broncos are 0-4
• The Dolphins will host the Redskins (Week 6) and the Bengals (Week 16)

The Miami Dolphins have had a rough start to the 2019 season, to put it mildly. They’ve lost all four of their games and have the worst point differential in the league at -137, which is  84 points behind the second-worst team (Cincinnati, -53).

The good news is that Week 5 will be the first week in which they don’t lose (they’re on a bye). Are the Dolphins still the best bet to finish the season with the worst record or could another team possibly be even worse?

Odds To Have First Pick In 2020 NFL Draft

Odds as of 10/02/19.

Bengals, Redskins Enter The Conversation For Worst Team

To earn the top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the prospective winner will have to finish with the most losses this season. While many people just assumed that the Dolphins would be that squad, they’ve suddenly found some competition from the Bengals and Redskins, both of whom have yet to win a game and have been outclassed more often than not.

The Bengals looked like they’d be competitive this season when they went on the road in Week 1 and nearly beat the Seattle Seahawks (lost 21-20). They’ve since been blown out in two of their last three games, a lopsided setback at home to the 49ers and another on the road against a formerly-winless Pittsburgh team.

As for Washington, things were looking up when they held a 17-0 first-half lead in Philadelphia in Week 1. However, they blew that lead and have since lost by at least 10 points in every game. Worse yet, they have already made a change at quarterback and rookie Dwayne Haskins didn’t look good.

The Dolphins were at even-money to get the top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft last time the odds were posted, but with the Redskins’ struggles, Miami now has company. Washington is nearby at +250.

Who Hits Rock Bottom First?

The question in this race is who hits rock bottom first? Remember that the Dolphins have a young roster with a new head coach, so theoretically, they could get better as the season progresses. Quarterback Josh Rosen should improve with the more snaps he gets, while guys like Kenyan Drake, Preston Williams and DeVante Parker should as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGNwEBLwLsc

At the same time, this is a team that hasn’t scored more than 10 points in a game and is desperately thin at numerous positions. Maybe they’re still on course for rock bottom and haven’t hit it yet.

As for teams like the Bengals and Redskins, it feels like things can still get a lot worse. Washington, in particular, could start quitting on head coach Jay Gruden, who looks like he’ll be fired. They’re already making multiple changes at quarterback and, with Haskins failing to deliver a spark of optimism, this team could sink quite a bit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab-bI_G0SHI

The Bengals, on the other hand, still have Andy Dalton, Joe Mixon, and will get A.J. Green back soon. They’ve also played three of their first four games on the road so I’m less concerned with them than, say, the Dolphins, who have played three of their first four games at home.

Redskins Are Worth A Bet

The Dolphins have shown some signs of life in recent weeks. They should have had a halftime lead at Dallas and did have an early lead against Los Angeles. This is a team that actually seems to be somewhat – emphasis on ‘somewhat’ – improving.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A4yMqG80NU

Meanwhile, the Redskins are 0-4 already and I don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel. They’re hosting New England this week, which brings them to 0-5. Then they visit Miami, which is a coin toss. After that, they host San Francisco and visit the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills. At best, this team will be 1-8.

As for Miami, they have the advantage of hosting the matchup with the hapless Redskins; they’ll also host the  Jets in Week 9 and the Bengals in Week 16. I’m not seeing many wins on their calendar, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they picked off one or two. I think the Redskins offer good value here at +250.