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You Can Bet on Which Rookie Will Be Suspended First in 2019 NFL Season – Sweat & Simmons Listed as Co-Favorites

Ryan Metivier

by Ryan Metivier in NFL Football

Updated Apr 1, 2020 · 12:39 PM PDT

Jeffrey Simmons of Mississippi State
Titans' draft pick Jeffrey Simmons is considered a favorite to be one of the NFL rookies suspended first this year. Photo By @GiantsNationNTC (Twitter)
  • Several of this year’s NFL rookie draft class have a history of personal issues
  • Sportsbooks have released odds on which rookie will be suspended first
  • Montez Sweat and Jeffrey Simmons are considered the favorites

With the 2019 NFL Draft now wrapped up, we can begin to start considering what the makeup of each team’s roster will look like come the regular season.

Among the many stats, accolades and records likely to be accumulated by these young men in 2019, there’s also the chance for some less scrupulous behavior, leading to suspensions as well.

Odds have been released on which rookie will be suspended first.

Which NFL Rookie Will Be Suspended First?

Player 2019 NFL Suspension Odds
Montez Sweat +150
Jeffrey Simmons +150
Gerald Willis +200
Dexter Lawrence +250

*Odds taken 05/01/19

Let’s take a look at which of these NFL rookies could feel the wrath of Commissioner Roger Goodell first this upcoming season.

Montez Sweat

Redskins’ 26th overall pick Montez Sweat is big, long, and fast and figures to factor heavily into Washington’s pass rush. He may have slipped down the draft board due to a diagnosed heart condition.

However, having passed the team physical, it sounds like a non-factor for Washington.

Sweat was kicked off his first college team at Michigan State.

The Mississippi State alum may have also made some teams pause to call his name considering he was kicked off his first college team at Michigan State. He was suspended indefinitely two games into the 2015 season for a violation of team rules and dismissed the following spring.

Though the specific reason was not disclosed, some say it may have been for smoking marijuana. He was also accused of stealing a bicycle.

Whatever the reason, it seems to be an issue in the past for Sweat.

“I went through some personal problems, and I’ve really grown from that and matured from that,” he said. “I showed at Mississippi State going through all that type of stuff, and I really feel like I’m a very mature person right now and just keep on growing up.”

He also added he hopes to make his grandparents proud. Hmm, doesn’t sound like a guy destined to be in Goodell’s crosshairs.

Jeffrey Simmons

Titans’ defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons, also from Mississippi State, is the co-favorite in this prop bet with Sweat.

Simmons’ detractors will point to an incident in high school where video shows him repeatedly striking a woman who was in an altercation with his sister. However, Titans’ management feels confident he is a changed man and has learned from his past.

Simmons apologized and stated he was defending his family.

Potential personal issues aside, Simmons has recently torn his ACL and may not even factor into the 2019 season.

Gerald Willis

Then there’s Gerald Willis, who actually went undrafted. The Miami Hurricanes’ defensive tackle was dismissed by the Florida Gators in 2014 for several behavioral issues. This included a physical altercation with a backup quarterback involving missing cleats.

After a transfer to Miami, he took the 2017 year off for personal reasons.

Willis had an outstanding year for Miami in 2018 and had high hopes of being drafted. When that didn’t happen, stories surfaced that Willis had an altercation with the son of a former Baltimore Ravens’ coach. He also apparently did not impress in off-the-field team meetings.

Curiously, it is in fact the Ravens, who are now rumored to be interested in signing Willis.

Dexter Lawrence

Clemson defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence was drafted 17th overall by the New York Giants. Lawrence may have issues breaking into the lineup this year with several young defensive talents already on the team.

However, his issues may come off-field. The 21-year-old missed Clemson’s last two playoff games this past season. Lawrence, along with two of his teammates, tested positive for ostarine, which is a banned performance enhancing drug.

Lawrence tested positive for ostarine, which is a banned performance enhancing drug.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney admitted it’s possible the team may have even given the players something containing the drug by accident. So it’s possibly Lawrence consumed the drug unknowingly. He still maintains he’s not sure how it got into his system.

Bet Willis to Be Suspended First

For my money, Willis looks the best bet here. Of the four, he seems to be the one who’s had the most repeated run-ins and issues in his past with other players. While the others have more off-the-field concerns which either involved family disputes, issues from several years prior, or curious cases of PED suspensions which involved other players too.

Best Bet: Gerald Willis (+200)

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