Betting markets confused on Washington's QB plans with Heinicke, Smith originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
Taylor Heinicke made thousands of new fans with his gutsy playoff performance against Tampa, but when it comes to the 2021 season, his future seems anything but certain.
Washington only signed Heinicke in early December, and his last football work prior to that was a backup stint in the XFL. There are real questions about his ability to stay healthy over the course of an NFL season too.
Considering all of that, some offshore betting websites have provided odds on Heinicke starting again next season for Washington, and the odds aren't good: Heinicke is -300 not to start Week 1 and +200 to be the starter.
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It's important to note that Heinicke is not under contract for 2021, and complicating matters is the uncertainty surrounding veteran QB Alex Smith.
He will turn 37 in May and after making a remarkable comeback late in the 2020 season from a broken leg that caused him to miss nearly two full years, Smith missed three of Washington's last five games with a calf strain.
He's scheduled to make about $24 million this fall, but there is no longer guaranteed money attached to his deal and Washington could save more than $14 million against the salary cap if Smith's released.
The question for many people about Smith's future is if he would consider retirement.
For oddsmakers, it's nearly a coin flip, but that Smith is slightly more likely to come back than hang it up. To bet on Smith retiring will get +110 odds, to bet on Smith to keep playing will cost -150.
Sometimes in sports it's a smart way to form expectations based on what betting markets are predicting. It doesn't always work out, but it's a useful tool.
When it comes to the Washington Football Team's quarterback situation, there's not much information to glean.
