2022 NFL Draft: Best Player Props & Odds to Bet Now
The NFL Draft prop market has started to develop over the past week. We now have a solid idea of what the top 10-15 picks will look like.
But like we saw this week with the Eagles and Saints, there’s always the possibility of a significant trade to shake things up. That said, I’ve got two bets worth putting some money on with how things currently stand.
(Odds courtesy DraftKings)
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Jordan Davis: draft position over 13.5 (-148)
Jordan Davis is unlike any prospect the NFL has ever seen before. The 6’6″, 341-pound interior defender out of Georgia broke the laws of physics with his 4.78 40-yard dash at the combine. It’s like having a grizzly bear playing along your defensive line.
While Davis is a remarkable athlete at his size, and a fantastic player, with the limited amount of snaps he played in college and the lack of pass rush ability he showed, he could potentially fall down draft boards. According to Grinding the Mocks, Davis has an Expected Draft Position (EDP) of 15.6. He’s even lower on big boards as he checks in at 20th on PFF’s, 24th on Dane Brugler’s, 18th on CBS’s, and 16th on ESPN’s.
Among teams above the 13.5 pick mark, the Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans are the only ones with a need at defensive tackle. Both of those teams are embarking on massive rebuilds, so a run-stuff defensive lineman is likely not their ideal way to start with many other pressing needs. Davis met with the Steelers (20th overall pick) and Bills (25th) at the combine. He also visited the Eagles (15, 18) and Cowboys (24). All four of those teams hold picks outside the top 14 selections.
Garrett Wilson: first wide receiver selected (+140)
Garrett Wilson is a smaller receiver at 6’0″, 183 pounds, but he is incredibly talented. According to The Ringer’s Danny Kelly, he’s drawn comparisons to Diontae Johnson, Stefon Diggs, and Odell Beckham Jr. on Red Bull. He’s been an impact player for multiple years at Ohio State, earning snaps as a member of a loaded receiving core. He’s a shifty route runner with excellent ball skills and the elusiveness to shake defenders after the catch.
Wilson opened as the slight favorite to be the first wide receiver selected over USC’s Drake London but has fallen into a near tie in odds as the top of the wide receiver market. Both Wilson and London have draft position props of 10.5, with Wilson slightly more shaded towards the under. Wilson leads all wide receivers in EDP at 11.4, closely followed by London at 13.1.
There are three teams inside the top-12 picks with significant needs at wide receiver, the Jets, Falcons, and Commanders. Wilson and London have become popular mock draft selections to all three of those teams, but I’d bet on Wilson going first. Wilson has visited the Jets, and the Commanders’ Head Coach, Ron Rivera, was at Ohio State’s pro day to see the Buckeye wide receiver in person. London has only met with the Falcons at the combine and visited the Cowboys (24th overall).
As of now, it’s a toss-up as to who’s the first wide receiver off the board. We could even see a player like Jameson Williams, Treylon Burks, or Chris Olave be a surprise pick near the draft’s top. However, at +140, I’m putting my money on Wilson.
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Jack O’Brien is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Jack, check out his archive and follow him @JackOBrienNFL.