NFL odds, betting: 'Rodgers has been awful' — Why oddsmakers didn't adjust Steelers' Super Bowl odds after Aaron Rodgers signing
The Pittsburgh Steelers finally have a new starting quarterback, as Aaron Rodgers will reportedly sign a one-year deal with the team and report to next week's mandatory minicamp.
While it's potentially a big upgrade over current Steelers starting QB Mason Rudolph, the report didn't light up many odds screens on Thursday afternoon - because oddsmakers had already priced in Rodgers being on the team.
Multiple sportsbooks didn't shift the Steelers' Super Bowl odds at all, as BetMGM remained at 45-1. Pittsburgh has a win total of 8.5 and remains an underdog (+150) to make the postseason. The Steelers (22-1) have the eighth-best odds to win the AFC and third-best odds (+600) to win the AFC North.
The Steelers opened at 80-1 odds to win the Super Bowl this offseason, before there were any rumors of Rodgers possibly going there.
"They would have been rated towards the bottom without this signing," BetMGM trading manager Christian Cipollini told Yahoo Sports. "Obviously a massive upgrade over other QBs in the room, but it was assumed he was going to sign [with Pittsburgh] so it was baked in."
Other oddsmakers weren't as convinced Rodgers was a huge upgrade at the position for the Steelers.
"Rodgers has been awful," Ed Salmons, vice president of risk at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook said. "Before he ruptured his Achilles, his last year in Green Bay he wasn't good. Since the injury, he can't move - he just dumps it off so he doesn't get hit. Rudolph and Rodgers are the same thing for me."
Pittsburgh hasn't won the AFC North since 2020, but the Steelers have gone over their win total in five straight seasons. And head coach Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season in his 18 years at the helm in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers are 3-point road favorites in Week 1 against Rodgers' old team, the New York Jets.