NFL Draft Picks – The Best Bets to Make In the Draft
- The first round of the 2023 NFL Draft is live on ESPN and NFL Network at 8:00 pm ET on April 27
- It’s a deep draft for quarterbacks, with at least four expected to be picked among the top 10
- See all the best 2023 NFL Draft picks for the First Round ahead of Thursday night in the story below
Give the NFL credit for the hype they’ve managed to generate around draft day. The drama, intrigue and uncertainty that accompanies the first round of the NFL Draft make it an entirely compelling event. It’s must-see TV for football fans and football bettors alike and there are plemty of NFL Draft picks to be made ahead of the big day.
While the odds are suggesting that Alabama quarterback Bryce Young going first overall to the Carolina Panthers is all but a done deal, even that isn’t a lock. A Reddit post in the last few days is creating uncertainty, putting forth the suggestion Kentucky QB Will Levis has been telling friends that he’ll be going #1.
With the seconds ticking down until NFL Draft time when the Carolina Panthers are officially on the clock, we have a complete roundup of all the NFL Draft odds. From draft slot over/unders to predictions for the first, second and third overall picks and NFL Draft picks by team, Sports Betting Dime has got you covered when it comes to all of the NFL Draft Picks.
When Is the NFL Draft?
The NFL Draft gets underway Thursday, April 27 at 8pm ET with first-round action being carried by ESPN and the NFL Network.
These are some of the best bets for Round 1 of the NFL Draft.
Go Low On First Round QBs
This might be the easiest money you’ll make when betting on the first round of the NFL Draft. But let’s be honest about it, you’re gonna have to sweat it out.
You can just about check off quarterbacks Young, Levis, CJ Stroud and Anthony Richardson coming off the board, perhaps even before pick #10 is announced. If so, then you’ll need to hold your breath through the next 21 selections.
Total Quarterbacks Taken
| Total | Over Odds | Under Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 4.5 | -164 | +128 |
Odds say there will be more than four quarterbacks taken in the NFL Draft with the over juiced to -164 and the under listed at +128. Odds as of April 26th at FanDuel Sportsbook. Claim the FanDuel Sportsbook promo code here.
However, the fact of the matter is that there really isn’t another QB who is made of first-round mettle. Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker is the closest, but his age and his season-ending knee injury just about guarantees he’ll slide to the second round.
Pick: Under 4.5 QBs Taken (+128)
Will Levis just casually hitting the crossbar from 50 yards away on his KNEES 😳
Several scouts reportedly believe the Colts would “love” to take the Kentucky QB. pic.twitter.com/aTeyfysdZO
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) April 22, 2023
Stroud Will Slide
Whether or not the Levis scuttlebutt is indeed based in fact, there’s simply too much smoke around Levis to imagine that there isn’t a fire. He’s definitely climbing the draft board and that means someone else must be sliding.
It was NFL legend Gale Sayers who wrote the book I Am Third, but it is Ohio State QB CJ Stroud who will be the third QB coming off the board in the NFL Draft projections.
Third Quarterback Taken Odds
| Quarterback | Odds |
|---|---|
| CJ Stroud | +115 |
| Anthony Richardson | +150 |
| Will Levis | +350 |
That being said, it still won’t be at all surprising if he goes #4 to the Indianapolis Colts, following the previous calls of Young and Levis during the first three picks.
Pick: CJ Stroud third QB taken (+115)
Not QB Race Is Wide Open
With so much focus on the rich crew of QBs up for grabs, figuring out who will be the first non-QB called to the podium in NFL Draft projections by an NFL team is a wager worth making. And it isn’t as much of a slam dunk as the oddsmakers would have you believe.
Texas Tech edge Tyree Wilson is the -150 odds-on chalk to be the first non-QB selection on draft night. He wowed scouts with a stunning performance at the NFL Combine.
"Jalen Carter no matter what." — Mel Kiper Jr., in his final rankings for the 2023 NFL Draft: https://t.co/8PTaeK4ryA pic.twitter.com/waEj4gXm71
— DawgNation (@DawgNation) April 25, 2023
Alabama edge Will Anderson isn’t far behind at +120 but then you slide all the way to Georgia DT Jalen Carter at +1000. This was Carter’s draft position to lose and he did so, or so it would appear, by being involved in a street racing collision that left a Georgia teammate and staff member dead.
First Non-QB Taken Odds
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tyree Wilson | -150 |
| Will Anderson | +120 |
| Jalen Carter | +1000 |
On raw talent, Carter might just be the best player available in this draft. And there’s enough rumblings out there to suggest he’s still going to be the first non-QB chosen. Take the value Carter offers and roll with him.
Pick: Jalen Carter first non-QB selected (+1000).
Son Will Rise Above Father
Joey Porter Jr is the son of an NFL standout. Joey Porter was a disruptive Pro Bowl LB for 13 NFL seasons. But he was a third-round draft pick. His son, a Penn State cornerback, will be going much earlier than that in the draft. Much, much earlier.
Joey Porter Jr Draft Pick Odds
| Total | Over Odds | Under Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 19.5 | -200 | +146 |
Joey Porter Jr is set with a draft total of 19.5. It’s also a deep draft in terms of CB, but Porter’s name recognition certainly won’t hurt his chances of going sooner rather than later.
Pick: Joey Porter Jr under 19.5 (+146)
Jets Must Protect Their Newest Asset
Now that the deal is done and 39-year-old Aaron Rodgers is the new QB for the New York Jets, the focus for the Jets must be assuring that their difference maker is well protected. In that regard, look for New York’s AFC squad to be drafting an offensive lineman with their first selection, the 15th overall choice.
Position of New York Jets First Pick
| Position | Odds |
|---|---|
| Offensive lineman | -300 |
| Defensive lineman | +260 |
| Wide Receiver | +1500 |
It’s also a solid draft for offensive lineman, although both Ohio State’s Paris Johnson and Northwestern’s Pete Skoronski figure to be off the board by the time NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is calling the Jets to the podium.
Not to worry. They’ll be delighted to be snaring Georgia tackle Broderick Jones at #15 overall.
Pick: Offensive line to be position of New York Jets first pick (-300)
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An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
