Gardner Minshew Given +1600 Odds to Win NFL OROY; Is There Any Value?

• Jaguars rookie Gardner Minshew has looked competent in both appearances this year
• No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray has impressed in two starts
• Can Minshew compete for OROY with Daniel Jones now in the mix?

Don’t let Gardner Minshew’s disco/porno look off the team plane in Houston fool you.

The kid can ball.

After a gutsy performance that ended in a loss to the Texans, the sixth-round pick out of Washington State was thrust into the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds discussion.

Odds to Win 2019 NFL OROY

*Odds taken September 17; Follow the link in the table for more options

Nine of those rookies have all already made an impact in the early start to their careers – and the 10th, Giants QB Daniel Jones,  gets his first chance to showcase in Week 3 against Tampa Bay.

Can the Jaguars’ pivot match his off-field hype and wardrobe and earn you a nifty payday in the process?

Minshew is Firmly Entrenched as Starter

Less than 10 minutes into his debut as the prized $88 million man, Nick Foles broke his collarbone throwing a bomb to DJ Chark for a TD. Enter Gardner Minshew II, a guy more known for his moustache and his um … unorthodox workout attire.

Per @MikeGarafolo, #Jaguars starting QB Gardner Minshew III stretches in the pre-game locker room in nothing but a jockstrap. Again, our hero ??????

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 15, 2019

But behind that mystique was a guy who flourished in an Air-Raid system at Wazzou, where he led the nation in passing completions, pass attempts and passing yards per game, throwing for 4,779 yards and 38 TDs.

Gardner Minshew arriving in Houston… ?? pic.twitter.com/MtEVgcv5NQ

— SportsLine (@SportsLine) September 14, 2019

And when his opportunity came, he took it – putting together a performance that most established pivots wish they could have, let alone a first-year backup thrust into his first NFL game.

Gardner Minshew is TEARING UP the Chiefs defense.

He just tossed his first NFL touchdown pass and is 17-18 for 215 yards. pic.twitter.com/jVqPUFd4Fq

— Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) September 8, 2019

He was a crisp 22-of-25 passing, at one point piling up 13 straight completions (an NFL record for a player making his first appearance). His 88% completion percentage established the highest mark in franchise history.

Minshew with game-tying jump pass touchdown. The legend grows. pic.twitter.com/t1StubbTOb

— Turn the page, wash your hand (@JayDSarkar) September 15, 2019

In his first career start against the Texans the following week, Minshew kept the Jags in the game, battling through four sacks, and driving Jacksonville to a TD with 30 seconds in the fourth quarter to bring them to within a point.

And while the decision was right to go for the two point conversion, many wonder why Doug Marrone took the ball out of his young pivot’s hand with the game on the line, and handed off.

The Jaguars decide to go for two… and the win… but Leonard Fournette gets STUFFED by the Texans.?#JAXvsHOU
pic.twitter.com/MGU6SaKlAZ

— Sports Plug (@SportsPlug_) September 15, 2019

Still, two you-belong-here efforts should earn Minshew the right to start and develop, as the earliest Foles can come back is Week 11.

After two tough teams, the schedule eases up, with the Titans, Broncos, Panthers, the Brees-less Saints, Bengals, Jets and Texans on tap before their Week 10 bye.

If there’s ever a chance to start a QB controversy and get the fans stoked on Minshew Mania, this would be his chance.

What’s the Best Bet to Make?

And yet, this is Kyler Murry’s award to lose as of of right now. The Cardinals’ pivot is only the second rookie QB in NFL history to start his career with back-to-back 300+ yard passing games, joining Cam Newton.

First NFL TD pass for @K1 ? pic.twitter.com/ubF0bax2ft

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 8, 2019

He’s looked so comfortable in the system, maybe Kliff Kingsbury takes the training wheels off and lets the sports car really rip – especially in the red zone, where some risk-averse calls have them at 0-1-1, instead of potentially 2-0.

Kliff Kingsbury and the Cardinals are now the first team since the NFL moved the goal posts in 1974 to attempt 3 field goal attempts in a game, while trailing, from inside the 5-yard line.

— Football Perspective (@fbgchase) September 15, 2019

And even if Minshew’s body of work matches Murray’s, there’s a reason Daniel Jones has been plugged into a tie for second-best odds with Josh Jacobs, even without having played meaningful snaps.

It may have come far earlier than anyone expected, but Jones will begin his career behind a decent offensive line (read: better than the Texans), throwing to a competitive group of receivers (especially once Golden Tate gets back from suspension) and handing off to an all-pro at running back in Saquon Barkley.

Watch Daniel Jones preseason highlights pic.twitter.com/yhqTRhPiJP

— New York Giants (@Giants) September 17, 2019

If he can come close to matching his preseason output in the regular season, the G-Men’s rebuild theoretically be as easy as dumping Eli Manning and letting Jones get comfortable.

Those two make it a tough decision to look past the ‘stache, but for now, our eyes are on the top two QBs drafted this summer.

The pick: Murray (+200)