Colts Have Best Odds To Land Carr, But Hoosiers Can’t Bet On The Action

Colts are Most Likely to Acquire Carr, But Hoosiers are Prohibited from Betting on the Outcome

Posted on January 6, 2025

Derek Carr, the former starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders, has been benched and has also chosen to step away from the team so as not to be a “distraction.”

Fans are speculating on where the longtime Raiders QB will end up, expecting him to be traded.

Interestingly, the Indianapolis Colts are looking for a new quarterback. While the Colts are the top contenders to secure Carr, betting on this event is not possible despite the legality of sports betting in Indiana.

The Colts may be considering a trade for Carr.

In Indiana, sports betting is a significant industry. Over the past five years, gamblers in The Hoosier State have placed bets exceeding $10 billion. However, betting on player trades remains prohibited in Indiana.

Undoubtedly, there will be potential buyers for Carr from the Raiders. Throughout his career, he has accumulated over 35,000 passing yards, with 217 touchdowns and just 99 interceptions.

His performance has remained robust even in the most recent seasons. Carr has managed to throw more than 4,000 yards in four out of the past five seasons, featuring 4,804 yards in 2021, which was the fifth highest in the league that year.

Numerous NFL teams would appreciate that level of output from their quarterback role. Among the major contenders are the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans, both of whom experienced difficulties with their quarterback performance this season.

Regrettably, the Indianapolis Colts have also been in the same situation. Since Andrew Luck’s sudden retirement before the 2019 season, the Colts have been on the hunt for a leader in their offense.

According to DraftKings, the Colts are the most likely team to sign Carr. Unfortunately, the quarterback situation for the Indianapolis Colts is not included in the Hoosier State’s betting.

According to DraftKings, the Colts have the highest likelihood of acquiring Carr.

Most oddsmakers interpret Carr’s benching as an indication that the Raiders are prepared to part ways with the quarterback who holds nearly all franchise passing records. Consequently, it’s likely that Carr will be wearing a new uniform next season.

The Raiders can release Carr within three days after the Super Bowl, even without finding a trade partner, and only face a $5.625 million salary cap hit. Despite this, there is still a possibility that the Raiders might choose to retain him. However, his decision to step away from the team appears to suggest that a trade is likely.

Currently, DraftKings Sportsbook lists the odds of the Colts acquiring Carr at +330. Indianapolis has a history of attempting to revitalize the careers of former all-pro quarterbacks such as Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, and Matt Ryan, with varying levels of success. They may be considering taking another chance on Carr.

The New York Jets, who have endured numerous setbacks at the quarterback position in recent years, are next in line with the best odds to acquire Carr. DraftKings gives the Jets odds of +400 to secure Carr. Following them are the Tennessee Titans, with odds of +550.

Following the top three, no other team has better than +900 odds to acquire Carr. The likelihood of the Raiders retaining Carr is considered a longshot with odds at +3,000.

Betting on player trades is not allowed in Indiana.

Previously, PlayIndiana had contacted FanDuel regarding the inability of Indiana bettors to place bets on player trades, specifically when the Colts were aiming to acquire Carson Wentz.

A spokesperson for the company stated at that time, “It is not approved according to the regulations in Indiana.” PointsBet echoed the same sentiment.

At this time, we regret to inform that we are not allowed to list these wagers in Indiana.

Although their statements are accurate, they omit a crucial detail. The inability of Hoosiers to bet on player trades stems from the fact that no approved online sportsbooks in Indiana have officially requested to legalize such bets.

This isn’t about Indiana regulators preventing betting. Rather, it’s more focused on sportsbooks making extra efforts to include player trades in the list of sanctioned betting options.

Indeed, if a licensed sportsbook were to submit a request to the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGG), the likelihood of approval is high. The commission has previously informed PlayIndiana of having already established regulations for betting on player trades. However, no such request has been made so far.

Bettors in Indiana, who are keen to place a wager such as betting on Carr’s future destination, would need to travel to a state like Colorado to do so. This is because no sportsbook in Indiana has officially filed a request to offer such a bet.

The unfortunate truth for Hoosiers who enjoy betting on the NFL and other leagues is that there’s often a lot of speculation about where new coaches and players will land in professional sports. For many Indiana bettors, wagering on these markets would likely be a welcome opportunity.

Photo by Don Wright/Associated Press
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T.J. McBride

Based in Denver, T.J. McBride is a writer and reporter who covers the Nuggets as a beat writer. He regularly writes for PlayIndiana, focusing on issues related to the online gambling market. His work has been featured in various publications including ESPN, FiveThirtyEight, and Bleacher Report.

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