NFL Draft Odds Show Battle For 1st Pick With Walker & Hutchinson

Aidan Hutchinson has been the betting favorite to be the first overall pick for a little over a month, but Travon Walker’s rise has shortened Hutchinson’s odds.
NFL Draft betting odds have Malik Willis the favorite to be the first overall pick, but if Kenny Pickett gets drafted by the Carolina Panthers he may pull of the upset.

LAS VEGAS – The Jacksonville Jaguars are on the clock and 2022 NFL Draft betting odds indicate that they have a tough decision on their hands.

2022 NFL Draft – Number 1 Overall Pick Betting Odds

Aidan Hutchinson -190
Travon Walker +170
Ikem Ekwonu +1200
Evan Neal +1500
Kayvon Tibodeaux +2800
Malik Willis +3500

Comparing The Prospects With The Shortest Betting Odds

The past three NFL Drafts have begun with quarterbacks: Kyler Murray, Joe Burrow, and Trevor Lawrence getting selected first overall by their respective franchises. According to legal online sportsbooks that trend is likely to change.

Aidan Hutchinson has been the presumed number one overall pick since March 10th, when he had -243 odds at being the first pick. At that same point, Travon Walker’s top pick odds were +2267.

Hutchinson and Walker were both expected to be first-round selections before the NFL Combine began on March 1st. Walker turned heads with his performance at the event and may have made the Jaguars reconsider who they would select first overall.

Player:	2021 Sacks:	Height:	Weight:	40 Yard Dash:
Aidan Hutchinson	14	6′ 6″	265 lbs	4.74
Travon Walker	6	6′ 5″	275 lbs	4.51

Aidan Hutchinson had a dominant senior season at Michigan. He had 14 sacks and even finished in second place in the Hiesman Trophy voting.

Despite his great season, Hutchinson has seen some NFL talent evaluators lean towards Travon Walker’s perceived upside after his standout combine performance that saw him run the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds (tied for the ninth-fastest time by a defensive lineman ever!).

The argument for the top pick comes down to the perceived higher floor of Aidan Hutchinson and the higher ceiling that Travon Walker showcased at the combine.

Battle Between Malik Willis and Kenny Picket To Be The First Quarterback Drafted

There is no consensus top-rated quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft, but the two with the shortest betting odds to be the first one selected will still most likely be selected in the top half of the first round. The over-under for first-round quarterbacks this year is 3.5, with the under favored with -165 odds.

1st Quarterback Selected Betting Odds

Malik Willis -175
Kenny Pickett +130
Desmond Ridder +1200
Matt Coral +1600
Sam Howell +2500
Carson Strong +10000

A look at potential landing spots for Kenny Pickett and Malik Willis supports betting on Picket to be the first quarterback selected.

Comparing Landing Spots For The Top Quarterbacks

Team	First Round Pick(s)	Odds To Select Kenny Pickett	Odds To Select Malik Willis
Carolina Panthers:	6th	150	275
Pittsburgh Steelers:	20th	375	350
Detroit Lions:	2nd/32nd	2000	400
Atlanta Falcons:	8th	500	375
New Orleans Saints:	16th/19th	250	600

The points of focus when betting on the first quarterback selected are the Detroit Lions with the second pick and the Carolina Panthers with the sixth pick.

It seems likely that NFL bettors are leaning against the idea of Willis being selected by the Lions, but that may be the only way that he is picked before Pickett given the strong odds that Pickett gets drafted sixth overall by the Panthers.

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Brett Crown

Brett is a passionate sports writer who majored in Sport Management at Florida State University. He combines his knowledge of stats with his understanding of game theory to find the best values when sports betting. Brett enjoys golfing, playing cornhole, and hanging out by the pool when he’s not locked in watching games.