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How To Bet on the NFL Draft

Patrick Cwiklinski

By Patrick Cwiklinski

Updated:


NFL Draft betting NFL logo football icon red hexagon

The NFL Draft is a perfect opportunity to enjoy football betting in the spring when there’s no regular season or playoff action on the gridiron.

You might be wondering exactly how to bet on the NFL Draft. From NFL Draft odds to the best sportsbooks and promotions you can wager with, we’ve got you covered with important tips and key information.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to bet on the NFL Draft.

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NFL Draft Odds Explained

The first thing to keep in mind with NFL Draft odds is that line movement is all over the place. As one of the most unpredictable nights in the NFL calendar, bettors have plenty of opportunity to make wagers and win some money.

There are a ton of betting options when it comes to the NFL Draft. Let’s look at one of the most popular bets, the first-overall wager, to get a better understanding of how NFL Draft odds work.

Player First-Overall Pick Odds
Arch Manning +250
Dante Moore +380
CJ Carr +650
Jeremiah Smith +1000
LaNorris Sellers +1200

In the table above, Arch Manning is the favorite to go No. 1 in the 2027 NFL Draft, but it’s pretty wide open. This isn’t a surprise as these odds were from ahead of the season.

As the draft gets closer, expect somebody’s odds to get much, much shorter. The No. 1 pick is typically well known before the draft, so odds are either incredibly short (think -10000ish) or even pulled off the board.

Not all sportsbooks are created equal, and the NFL Draft betting odds will differ depending on which sports betting site you’re looking at. Make sure you do some line shopping with sports betting apps like theScore BET, FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM to compare which sportsbook will get you the biggest payouts.

Betting on the 2027 NFL Draft

The 2027 NFL Draft begins at 8pm ET on Thursday, April 29, so you’ll want to have your best NFL Draft bets placed before then.

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The first-overall wager isn’t the only way to bet on the NFL Draft. Keep in mind that some sportsbooks limit the types of wagers they offer, and certain states have restrictions on NFL Draft bets, which is covered further down the page.

Consider some of the following options for how to bet on the 2027 NFL Draft:

  • First-overall pick
  • Second, third, fourth, and fifth-overall pick
  • Team’s first player drafted
  • Position of team’s first pick
  • Exact draft order (Usually the first two selections only)
  • First player drafted per position (Running back, defensive end, cornerback, offensive lineman, etc.)
  • Top draft picks (i.e. Specific player drafted in the top three, top five, or top ten)
  • Draft prop bets (i.e. Total Big 10 college football players drafted in first round)
  • Over/under bets

Most of the betting types on this list are self explanatory, except for NFL Draft prop bets and over/under wagers. Totals betting and prop wagers on the NFL Draft have a lot of variety, so let’s explore those options in further detail.

NFL Draft Over/Under Bets

Over/under wagers, also known as totals betting, is a system where sportsbooks set a value for a certain bet and you have to decide whether the final outcome will be above or below that value.

For example, the 2027 NFL Draft could have an over/under bet of 4.5 Quarterbacks drafted with first-round pick.

Another example of NFL Draft totals is the over/under on where a specific player will be drafted. For instance, Leonard Moore at an over/under selection of number 12.5. You would need to decide whether Moore is selected over (13th overall or later) or under (selections one through 12) this total to win your bet.

NFL Draft Betting Props

The best way to understand NFL Draft betting props is to know that these wagers usually involve deciding where a specific player is drafted or the first player selected from a specific position.

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Sportsbooks will offer things like a “first wide receiver selected” prop bet available for prop betting. Similar to the over/under markets, there are a ton of NFL Draft betting props to choose from at every sportsbook.

NFL Draft Betting Promotions

As a sports betting event that’s only offered in certain states, sportsbooks typically don’t offer many NFL Draft promos. Having said that, any new customers can register and claim the best sign-up bonuses sports betting sites have to offer.

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  • DRAFTKINGS T&Cs: GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/NH/PR/WY). Void in CAN. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $150 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days after issuance. Stake removed from payout. Reward issued as $50 in Bonus Bets every 7 days via click-to-claim for 14 days. 7 days = 168hrs. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 8/23/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.

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How to claim NFL Draft betting bonuses:

  • Click one of the links in the list above
  • Register your new account using your personal information, including name, birthdate, email address, phone number and social security number
  • Make your first deposit
  • Make your first bet based on the parameters of the bonus

Typically, the BetMGM promo code is a First Bet Bonus, which will pay you back in bonus bets if your first bet loses. The DraftKings promo code meanwhile, is most often a Bet & Get. These excellent promos are a great way to pad your account for the NFL Draft and the season at large.

Where Can I Bet on the NFL Draft?

Thanks to prediction markets like Kalshi, Polymarket and Novig, NFL Draft betting is available in all states. Prediction markets are regulated at the federal level by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and not state regulatory bodies like their online sportsbook counterparts.

The states and sportsbooks where you can bet on the NFL Draft differ depending on where you’re located. Some states don’t allow NFL Draft betting at all, but we’ll get to that in just a second.

Can I Bet on the NFL Draft Using an Online Sportsbook in My State?

Not every US state allows betting on the NFL Draft. It all depends on how each state classifies the NFL Draft, and states like Pennsylvania simply do not consider it as a sporting event.

These specific states do not allow betting on the draft:

  • Connecticut
  • Iowa
  • Mississippi
  • New York
  • Pennsylvania
  • Virginia
  • Washington

NFL Draft betting can also be limited in the states that do classify it as a sporting event. For example, Michigan and West Virginia stop accepting wagers the night before the NFL Draft. Nevada also stops accepting wagers a full 24 hours before the start of the draft.

Live betting also comes with some specific restrictions in certain states. For example, New Jersey only allows NFL Draft live betting during the first round exclusively. Arizona doesn’t allow live wagering on the NFL Draft in any capacity due to concerns over insider information leaking.

While there are many ways to bet on the NFL Draft, it can be limited depending on what state you’re wagering from. With a lack of NFL betting since the conclusion of Super Bowl 57, this is a perfect way to get right back in the action if you’re eligible.

NFL Draft Betting FAQs

As one of the most unique events in all of sports betting, you might have some more questions for how to bet on the NFL Draft. Here’s a quick rundown of NFL Draft betting FAQs:

Can I bet on the NFL Draft?

Yes, in most cases you can bet on the NFL Draft.

When is the 2027 NFL Draft?

The 2027 NFL Draft takes place at 8 pm ET on Thursday, April 29.

Where can I bet on the NFL Draft?

You can bet on the NFL Draft in every US state, either by using a legal online sportsbook or prediction market. Sports betting sites like FanDuel, DraftKings, ESPN BET, and BetMGM, as well as prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket accept wagers on the NFL Draft.

Can you bet on the NFL Draft in Virginia?

Virginia sportsbooks do not allow NFL Draft betting, but you can use prediction markets.

Is it legal to bet on the NFL Draft?

Yes, it is legal to bet on the NFL Draft.

What NFL Draft markets can I bet on?

You can bet on NFL Draft markets like first-overall pick, over/under draft positions, NFL Draft prop bets, team’s first player drafted, position of team’s first pick, and first player drafted per position to name a few.

Patrick Cwiklinski
Patrick Cwiklinski

Evergreen Manager; Sportsbook Expert

Following a sports journalism career with his work appearing in outlets like theScore, The Province, and VICE Sports, Patrick moved into the world of content marketing to bridge the gap between great writing and SEO success. He’s brought that same mindset to lead evergreen content efforts at SBD.

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