Odds Say Will Grier Won’t Start a Game for Panthers in 2019
- The Carolina Panthers selected West Virginia quarterback Will Grier with the 100th overall pick in this year’s NFL draft. Books created a prop to see if Grier will see any starts this season as Cam Newton’s backup.
- How will Cam Newton’s shoulder and career hold up from here on out?
- Is there value in betting Will Grier to get a start?
It’s never a bad thing to have an insurance policy and that’s exactly what Will Grier will be in 2019.
Sure, he could be the future in Carolina, but for now and for the entirety of the season ahead, he is the fallback man in case Cam Newton’s shoulder can’t be brought back to life.
2019 Will Grier QB Starts Odds
| Wager | Will Grier Starts Odds |
|---|---|
| Over 0.5 | +140 |
| Under 0.5 | -160 |
*Odds taken May 1, 2019
Newton’s arm plagued him and the team for the majority of, if not all of 2018. He had surgery done on it almost immediately following the year and should be good to go. However, if his shoulder can’t hold up, there’s a very good chance we’ll know if Will Grier can handle the load sooner rather than later.
Will We See Comeback Cam in 2019?
It took a few years, but Andrew Luck certainly shredded his shoulder worries last season. He was one of the top performers at the position in the league and took the Colts to their first playoff appearance in three long years.
Well, the Carolina Panthers would love nothing more than for Cam Newton to follow suit this time around. Newton missed two games last season, but has generally been a dependable pivot. He’s only missed five games in eight seasons, so with that said, the odds against Will Grier are considerable.
From @gmfb: The hope is that #Panthers QB Cam Newton is back, throwing, by OTAs after shoulder surgery yesterday. pic.twitter.com/KS1ek1Pfd4
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 25, 2019
Now, we know Cam will be back in the saddle come training camp, but what we don’t know is how long that arm will hold up for.
Ian Rapoport also suggested on Good Morning Football in February that Newton will have to become a pocket passer – something that he’s never done or attempted throughout his entire professional or college career. He’s been a mobile, run and gun style passer. Take that type of game away from him and what are you left with? Will Grier.
Does Will See a Start This Season?
While the odds may suggest otherwise, you’d have to be a little nuts up top to think the Panthers won’t turn to Grier if things start to slip. This is Cam’s team, but if he can’t get the job done in the first half of the season, the immediate future may be very friendly for the former Mountaineer.
With an upgraded Buccaneers defense, a retooled Falcons squad and the ageless powerhouse that is the New Orleans Saints occupying six games on the Carolina schedule, the road ahead could be pretty rough for the Panthers starting slinger.
We like the odds suggesting Cam may not be the number on his jersey for the duration of 2019.
Best Bet: Over 0.5 Grier starts
Ryan is what you call a seasoned vet. It's been nearly 13 years and he has hosted three sports radio talk shows, two football television shows, two sports podcasts, released his first book in 2012, had his own ESPN E:60 documentary shot, and was the first inductee to ESPN's Hall of Fans.
