Sam Darnold Favored in Odds to Lead NFL in Interceptions Thrown in 2021 Season
By Robert Duff in NFL Football
Published:
- Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold is the +700 favorite to lead the NFL in interceptions during the 2021 regular season
- Washington Football Team QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff are next in this betting line at +800
- See the odds for every NFL QB on the board within the story below
It’s interesting to note that Sam Darnold, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jared Goff are the top three contenders to lead the NFL in interceptions this season. All three quarterbacks will be under center for new teams in 2021.
As anyone who’s ever moved into a new area can confirm, it can be confusing. New systems to learn, different patterns to understand. The next thing you know, everything is heading in the wrong direction.
Oddsmakers are listing Darnold, the new starting QB of the Carolina Panthers, as the +700 favorite to lead the NFL in interceptions this season. Fitzpatrick (Washington Football Team) and Goff (Detroit Lions), also both in new homes, are next in this betting market at +800.
2021 NFL Interception Leader Odds
| Quarterback (Team) | Odds at DraftKings |
|---|---|
| Sam Darnold (Panthers) | +700 |
| Ryan Fitzpatrick (Washington) | +600 |
| Jared Goff (Lions) | +800 |
| Zach Wilson (Jets) | +900 |
| Jalen Hurts (Eagles) | +1000 |
| Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars) | +1200 |
| Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers) | +1200 |
| Daniel Jones (Giants) | +1400 |
| Justin Fields (Bears) | +1600 |
| Kyler Murray (Cardinals) | +2200 |
| Kirk Cousins (Vikings) | +2200 |
| Justin Herbert (Chargers) | +2200 |
| Jordan Love (Packers) | +2500 |
| Drew Lock (Broncos) | +2500 |
| Carson Wentz (Colts) | +2500 |
| Matthew Stafford (Rams) | +2800 |
| Joe Burrow (Bengals) | +2800 |
| Baker Mayfield (Browns) | +2800 |
| Ryan Tannehill (Titans) | +3000 |
| Mac Jones (Patriots) | +3000 |
| Jameis Winston (Saints) | +3000 |
| Dak Prescott (Cowboys) | +3000 |
| Teddy Bridgewater (Broncos) | +3300 |
| Matt Ryan (Falcons) | +3300 |
| Josh Allen (Bills) | +3300 |
| Jimmy Garoppolo (49ers) | +3300 |
| Derek Carr (Raiders) | +3300 |
| Davis Mills (Texans) | +3300 |
| Cam Newton (Patriots) | +3300 |
| Andy Dalton (Bears) | +3300 |
| Tyrod Taylor (Texans) | +4000 |
| Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins) | +4000 |
| Trey Lance (49ers) | +4000 |
| Tom Brady (Buccaneers) | +4000 |
| Taysom Hill (Saints) | +4000 |
| Russell Wilson (Seahawks) | +4000 |
| Lamar Jackson (Ravens) | +5000 |
| Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs) | +10000 |
| Aaron Rodgers (Packers) | +20000 |
Odds as of July 15th
What Makes a Pickoff QB a Good Pick?
Last season, Denver’s Drew Lock (443 pass attempts) and Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz (437) shared the NFL lead with 15 interceptions. It was the first time in five seasons that the QB who was picked off the most didn’t accumulate 450 pass attempts.
Jerry Jeudy: “I’m open”
Drew Lock: pic.twitter.com/yYgEeKHvya
— PFF (@PFF) July 6, 2021
There are two aspects that a QB requires to lead the NFL in interceptions. Firstly, he must be at the helm of a team that isn’t afraid to put the ball in the air. Second, he needs to be assured of staying in as the starter, even if and when things begin to head south.
That’s why rookies like Zach Wilson of the New York Jets, Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars or Justin Fields of the Chicago Bears are bad bets. It’s not certain in every case that they will be the starter. Secondly, it’s likely that the offensive coordinator will design a more conservative offensive scheme in which for them to operate.
Darnold Used to Flirting With Disaster
Darnold set a tone for the future with his first NFL pass. It was a pick-six.
In three seasons with the New York Jets, Darnold was among the interception leader contenders each year. However, he was never the frontrunner.
Panthers look to see what they have in Sam Darnold. He’ll have the weaponry.
• 1 of the NFL’s 2 WR pairs to top 1,000 REC YDS (DJ/Robby)
• 2019 scrimmage yard leader (CMC)– he had ONE player (Le’Veon ‘19) to reach 1,000 scrimmage yards in 3 years…#KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/347ugeUJOg
— KING NBA Talk (@KingNBAStats) July 12, 2021
Injuries have helped keep his pickoff totals down. In nine games last season, Darnold – who was favored to lead the league – was intercepted nine times on 364 pass attempts. That’s an interception rate of 3%. Lock and Wentz led the league at 3.4%.
In 2019, Darnold was picked off 13 times in 441 attempts. That’s 2.9%. As a rookie in 2018, Darnold threw 15 interceptions and was picked off at a 3.6% rate.
If the Shoe Fitz
He’s in a battle with Taylor Heinicke for the starting job in Washington. If Ryan Fitzpatrick wins the battle, then you’ll want to get a bet down on him to lead the NFL in interceptions.
“My career has been a roller coaster, but I have never lost my confidence. That’s why I’m still playing 17 years later, and that’s one of the lessons that I try to ooze confidence and hope it trickles down to those young guys.”
Ryan Fitzpatrick is ready to lead 💪 pic.twitter.com/AcjZDKTDu0
— Gridiron (@Gridiron) July 13, 2021
Last year, while sharing time with Tua Tagovailoa in Miami, 3% of Fitzpatrick’s passes were picked off. In 2019, he was intercepted at a 4.9% rate. Two years earlier, he was intercepted 17 times and at a 4.2% rate.
Maybe Don’t Pass on These Guys
The last time Saints QB Jameis Winston was an NFL starter with Tampa Bay in 2019, he was intercepted an NFL-leading 30 times and at a 4.8% rate.
And people wonder why it took the #Bucs 18 years to win a playoff gamepic.twitter.com/WC1pQDmDXP
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) July 12, 2021
In 2018, Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger threw a league-leading 16 interceptions. The Steelers look like a team poised for a letdown campaign.
Pick: Ryan Fitzpatrick (Washington) +800.
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
