The NFL Draft is less than a week away and betting odds are in full swing across various online sportsbooks platforms, offering great angles for profit as the league fills its coffers with this year’s latest young, aspiring talent.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have the first overall draft pick for the second straight season. The direction they choose to cast their attention is a topic of great fascination that has prompted a slew of NFL mock drafts.
Will it be Aidan Hutchinson, who is favored at -180 at BetOnline to go first overall? Will it be Travon Walker, who is the second-best bet at +175 to don a Jacksonville Jaguars jersey?
How the Jaguars approach the first overall pick will also set the tone for the rest of the first round. In this column, we examine the NFL betting markets that are currently available and serve up choice NFL picks to spot for the 2022 NFL draft.
First Overall Draft Pick
- Aidan Hutchinson -180
- Travon Walker +175
- Kayvon Thibodeaux +900
- Evan Neal +1400
- Ikem Ekwonu +1400
- Malik Willis +5000
Six players have been shortlisted by the oddsmakers to go first in the draft, including quarterback Malik Willis although he’s priced as a longshot bet at +5000. Could you imagine if the Jaguars go down that route after supposedly picking generational talent Trevor Lawrence first overall last year? Talk about seismic shockwaves at the online sportsbook exchange!
By all accounts, Aidan Hutchinson is looking more and more like a first overall draft pick. Back in December, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh predicted the pass rusher would be the top choice in this year’s draft.
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Of course, Harbaugh would say that seeing Hutchinson was integral to his side’s standout season. In 13 games, Hutchinson had 14 sacks, three passes defended, two forced fumbles, and one recovery and he was a major disrupter in the Wolverines’ victory over Ohio State.
Hutchinson was a Heisman Trophy candidate this year, but he finished behind Bryce Young for the honor. He nevertheless finished in front of a couple of quarterbacks –Kenny Pickett (Pittsburgh) and C.J. Stroud (Ohio). That’s quite the endorsement and that only lends further value to Hutchinson as a top bet for the No.1 draft pick.
NFL Pick: Aidan Hutchinson (-180) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
First QB Selected
- Malik Willis -155
- Kenny Pickett +135
- Desmond Ridder +700
- Matt Corral +1200
- Sam Howell +5000
The quarterback class at this year’s NFL draft hasn’t received the best reviews, prompting wide speculation about where each quarterback might land in the league and what that means in terms of draft picks.
Initially, markets projected fewer than 2.5 quarterbacks would go in the first round with Malik Willis and Kenny Pickett receiving the bulk of the attention. Lately, that number appears to have been juiced up, suggesting the appetite for a quarterback might be more robust than initially expected.
Malik Willis is the top choice to be the first quarterback off the board, but Kenny Pickett is a close second best bet that could be the value play here. The opinion is mixed on whether Desmond Riddler or Matt Corral is the third-best option.
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In a recent interview with Adam Breneman on “Breneman Shows Up,” Pickett said he believed he would be the first quarterback on stage to shake Roger Goodell’s hand. That’s confidence. The kind that might attract certain teams that are looking to fill the quarterback room this season with an inspirational young talent.
Pickett cited the fact that he took a program that was 5-7 and led it to an 11-2 mark and an ACC championship as reasons why teams would be interested in a winner like him. He also added the fact that his age might be another advantage, highlighting a similarity he shares with Joe Burrow, who was a bit older than some of the other quarterbacks in his class.
NFL Pick: Kenny Pickett (+135) with BetOnline
Teams to Select Kenny Pickett
- Panthers +150
- Steelers +350
- Saints +350
- Falcons +600
- Seahawks +600
- Titans +1200
- Commanders +2000
- Lions +2500
- Eagles +2500
- Texans +2500
- Colts +3300
- Bucs +4000
- Jets +5000
- Giants +6000
The Carolina Panthers have the sixth overall draft pick this year. Of the teams with one of the first ten picks, the Panthers would appear to be the most quarterback-needy. As such, Pickett is projected to go to the Panthers as the +150 bet.
Sam Darnold’s second crack at an NFL career didn’t pan out and at the close of his first season in Carolina he extended his career record to 17-32 through four seasons. As well, the return of Cam Newton late in the season proved anti-climactic, along with backup P.J. Walker who clearly wasn’t up to the task either.
Matt Rhule desperately needs a quarterback if he’s to hold on to his NFL job. However, a disgruntled Baker Mayfield has recently been tied to the organization, which would potentially clash with such a draft pick.
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Moreover, considering Carolina doesn’t have any picks in the second or third round, it’s possible that the sixth overall pick could be up for sale on the day in return for more picks.
Other teams that could do with a quarterback in the immediate include the Steelers, Falcons, and Seahawks. As things currently stand, the Steelers are going into the season with Mitchell Trubisky, the Falcons with Marcus Mariota, and the Seahawks with Drew Lock – all of which feel like stopgaps.
The Steelers are a potential candidate for Pickett here as well as the Seahawks because both have the most questionable quarterback room right now. Considering Pickett’s ties to Pittsburgh through college, the Steelers could be the best fit for the young quarterback.
NFL Pick: Steelers (+350) with BetOnline
First Wide Receiver Selected
- Garrett Wilson +105
- Jameson Williams +175
- Drake London +215
- Treylon Burks +2000
- Chris Olave +2000
The wide receiver class is one that should command some interest in this year’s draft, especially after the big moves that were made during free agency. The Chiefs bid adieu to Tyreek Hill, the Packers to Davante Adams…and so on.
Thus, there will be quite a few teams, including these bona fide Super Bowl contenders eyeing up wide receivers, looking for the best fit to bolster their offensive arsenal. Indeed, several online sports betting sites are projecting over 5.5 wide receivers going in the first round, underscoring just how coveted the position is in the league right now.
Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson, Alabama’s Jameson Williams and USC’s Drake London are the top three options in the draft. Any one of these three could go first, but if push comes to shove, Jameson Williams could prove the best bet. It’s the Alabama Crimson Tide angle, as the NFL has a tendency to turn to Nick Saban for top talent.
NFL Pick: Jameson Williams (+175) with BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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