The NFL may be in its golden age of quarterback play. A perfect mixture of aging yet effective quarterbacks and young superstars combine to make up an exciting landscape as we approach the 2022 season. Today’s pass-happy league has placed a historic amount of emphasis on rostering a true difference-maker at quarterback.

An abundance of quarterbacks are capable of leading the league in passing yards this coming season. Several of the favorites have witnessed their teams acquire high-level receivers in pursuit of improvement. The NFL just experienced its wildest and most unpredictable offseason in history, one that promises to shake up the natural order of the league. Predicting this season’s passing yards leader is an exciting exercise worth partaking in.

The NFL futures prop betting landscape for this campaign’s 2022 passing yards leader is officially starting to take shape. BetOnline has already updated the exciting odds. The top 10 shakes out as follows:

Justin Herbert (+750)
Tom Brady (+800)
Patrick Mahomes (+850)
Matthew Stafford (+1000)
Joe Burrow (+1000)
Josh Allen (+1000)
Derek Carr (+1000)
Dak Prescott (+1200)
Aaron Rodgers (+1400)
Russell Wilson (+1600)

THE FAVORITE AND MY PICK: JUSTIN HERBERT

Justin Herbert is currently the favorite and we agree with that sentiment. The former Oregon standout finished in second place last year with 5,014 passing yards and appears primed to take yet another step forward in 2022. Chargers General Manager Tom Telesco has taken the appropriate steps necessary this offseason to ensure Los Angeles’ offense remains effective while maximizing Herbert’s potential.

Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are expected to dominate Herbert’s target share for the second consecutive season. Allen returns for his 10th season and Williams was re-signed to a multi-year contract earlier this summer. Second-year player Joshua Palmer flashed as a rookie and is capable of playing a larger role in three-receiver sets going forward. New tight end Gerald Everett adds a new wrinkle to the passing offense. Perhaps most importantly, the Chargers upgraded their offensive line by drafting Zion Johnson and Jamaree Salyer. Herbert should have the required time to drop back and scan the field in search of his preferred targets.

Playing in an ultra-competitive AFC West should lead to several high-scoring contests. Chargers Head Coach Brandon Staley will lean on Herbert’s brilliance by placing the ball in his hands on a regular basis. Herbert has the arm talent to approach 5,500 passing yards this coming season.

THE NO. 1 CONTENDER: TOM BRADY

Tom Brady led the league in this category last season by compiling 5,316 passing yards. Brady returns to the Buccaneers in 2022 after a short-lived retirement and we fully expect him to be one of the most productive starting quarterbacks throughout the upcoming campaign. The soon-to-be-45-year-old Brady hasn’t lost a step despite his advancing age and still possesses the arm talent necessary to outduel his worthy contenders.

Brady will spearhead a pass-happy Buccaneers offense that is once again loaded at receiver. Mike Evans is a dominant boundary pass-catcher who has routinely displayed chemistry with Brady while connecting via their vertical passing game. The always reliable Chris Godwin was re-signed to a three-year contract worth $60 million, and Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht replaced the controversial Antonio Brown by signing an underrated Russell Gage away from their division rival Atlanta Falcons. Expect plenty of three-receiver sets from the Buccaneers in 2022. Rob Gronkowski could also return to man the tight end position before September arrives.

It’s worth noting that offensive-minded Bruce Arians has transitioned into a front office role while being replaced as head coach by a defensive-driven Todd Bowles. Perhaps more importantly, Byron Leftwich returns as offensive coordinator and the Buccaneers’ offense is expected to retain its pass-happy identity with Brady under center. Brady should receive plenty of opportunities to reign victorious as the league’s back-to-back passing yards leader.

DON’T SLEEP ON: DEREK CARR

It may qualify as a surprise for some to witness Derek Carr feature the same odds (+1000) as elite signal-callers such as Joe Burrow and Josh Allen, but it’s worth noting Carr actually threw for more yards (4,804) than Burrow (4,611) or Allen (4,407) did last season. It’s also plausible to believe Carr will take yet another step forward under new Head Coach Josh McDaniels, an offensive-minded leader who brings a wealth of experience to a new-look Raiders offense. Carr is set up for immediate success in 2022.

New Raiders General Manager Dave Ziegler made a significant offseason splash when he acquired superstar wide receiver Davante Adams from the Green Bay Packers. Adams is arguably the most effective receiver in the league and is fully capable of helping Carr elevate his production in 2022. Carr and Adams played together at Fresno State and should quickly manage to recapture their previous magic. The Raiders desperately required a dominant target-hog at receiver and ultimately found one in Adams.

McDaniels and Adams should help catapult Carr to new heights. Playing in the high-scoring AFC West should allow Carr to set a new career-high in passing yards while surpassing the 5,000-yard mark for the first time in his professional career. Forecasting a productive Carr is a worthy gamble.