The Oddsmakers First Dozen Pick Mock Draft

NFL draft day is here, and everyone is wondering how it will play out – which team will draft which player, there will be trades, etc. Preparation for the draft has been remarkably quiet this year, with little rumor and news over the past few days.

Either way, bettors have put up a wide range of bets on everything from who gets drafted first, to whether or not the first draft pick will cry, and whether he’ll kiss his mom, dad , girlfriend, friend, sibling or agent first. (Dad is probably at +110).

We’ll leave the crying and cuddling to Kramer and other addicted players to bet on and instead focus on the lines for each pick in the draft and piece together a mock draft based on the shortest odds at each draft slot.

Here we go…odds provided by sportsbetting.ag or Bovada.

1. Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia

Walker became the favorite to go first, at -300. Aiden Hutchinson is down to +275, and the next most likely is +600. Jacksonville is going for a potentially higher ceiling with Walker, rather than the more tried and tested Hutchinson.

2. Aiden Hutchinson, EDGE, Mich.

With Walker moving up to No. 1, Hutchinson becomes the undisputed favorite (-275) for the Lions at No. 2. Kayvon Thibodeaux is the most likely next at +300.

3. Derek Stingley Jr., BC, LSU

It was often thought that the Texans would go OL here, but Stingley has become the favorite in recent days, and is now +150 to be No. 3 overall. Next most likely is Ikem Ekwonu at +300. It’s not a welcome development for Vikings fans, but the logic with the Texans – who have a lot of needs, including OT – is that they have a choice of the top two CBs here, without the risk of being there at 13. On the other hand, there can be a top tackle that slips in at 13. Apparently, Texans like Stingley more than Sauce Gardner.

Some other relevant odds here: Walker, Hutchinson, Stingley going 1-2-3 have the shortest odds at +200. Stingley is also +150 for being a top 5 pick. The one line that still goes against the others is Ahmad Gardner at -200 for being the first CB out of the board. Stingley is +125.

4. Ikem Ekwonu, Occupational Therapist, North Carolina State

Gardner’s ratings have been steadily rising, and now he’s the +300 favorite. But Ikem Ekwonu has +350 to go here, and the Jets have +125 to go offensive lineman – their most likely position here. Ekwonu is also at -190 to go under the 4.5 pick.

5. Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

Charles Cross has the shortest odds here for the Giants at +170. The Giants also have -250 to take an offensive lineman here. Cross is also -175 to go under the 6.5 pick. Ahmad Gardner is +350 here, but with the Panthers more likely to go OT than CB, the Giants take Cross ahead of them.

6. Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh

The Panthers have been linked with taking a QB here, have spent the majority of their pre-draft visits with quarterbacks and are betting favorites to take Kenny Pickett at +150. They have no other choice until the 4th round, so it’s now or never. But the offensive line is now at -250 for the Panthers, while QB is second at +170. But with Ekwonu and Cross out of the picture, Pickett is the next most likely pick here at +500, slightly ahead of Evan Neal at +550.

7. Ahmad Gardner, BC, Cincinnati

Gardner has the shortest odds here for the Giants at +250. The Giants are said to be buying James Bradbury, so taking Gardner makes sense here.

8. Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

Wilson has the shortest odds to be selected at No. 8 for the Falcons at +250, with Drake London and Jameson Williams tied for second at +400. The Falcons also have -175 to take a wide receiver here, with a defensive lineman far behind at +500.

9. Evan Neal, Occupational Therapist, Alabama

Neal has the shortest odds (+500) for the Seahawks here among prospects not yet taken. But there is also uncertainty with these odds. The Seahawks are also +250 to take an offensive lineman here, +275 to take a QB, and +300 to take a defensive lineman, so it’s definitely possible the Seahawks could go another route. But Neal falling that far would be a chance for Seattle, and it would also fit their offensive plan. Neal is also at -160 to pass the 6th pick.

10. Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State

Defensive and offensive lineman were the two most likely positions for the Jets to draft with their first pick, and after picking an offensive lineman at No. 4, they become defensive lineman here with Johnson, who was +400 to be picked by the Jets at #4- more likely than Kayvon Thibodeaux at +500. Johnson is also at -145 to go under the 9.5 pick.

11. Drake London, WR, USC

Washington is -105 to go WR here, +225 to go safe. London is also at -135 to drop below 10.5. Rumor has it that the two top WR candidates for Commanders are London and Chris Olave. London has the most likely odds at this position. He has the second-best chance of being the first WR selected (after Wilson) at +250.

12. Minnesota Vikings

In this scenario, there are several interesting prospects on the board for the Vikings, including:

• Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
• Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
• Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

Thibodeaux being available here goes against his chances of making the top five picks (-750), but that’s largely because Thibodeaux has odds that are close to second/third in many places, from No. 2, but is not chosen. There are rumors that due to his strong personality and shorter arms (33 1/8″) for an advanced rusher, he might drop a little more than expected, and so that’s the case in this script.

The availability of Thibodeaux and Williams could generate significant commercial interest, so a drop in trade is a possibility here for the Vikings. Selecting any of the above is also a viable option.

What will the Vikings do? We will have to wait and see.