Kyler Murray’s Odds of Being Selected First Overall Fading, Still Listed as Odds-On Favorite
- The 2019 NFL Draft gets underway on Thursday, April 25th at 8:00 p.m. EST
- The Arizona Cardinals currently hold the top pick
- The Cardinals drafted QB Josh Rosen in the first-round last year but could trade him to make room for Heisman Trophy winner QB Kyler Murray
It’s finally draft night and despite the clock ticking down there still isn’t total clarity on who will be the first player taken.
Who Will Be Selected 1st Overall in the 2019 NFL Draft?
| Who Will Be Selected 1st Overall? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Kyler Murray (QB, Oklahoma) | -375 |
| Nick Bosa (EDGE, Ohio State) | +375 |
| Quinnen Williams (DT, Alabama) | +500 |
| Josh Allen (EDGE, Kentucky) | +3300 |
*Odds taken 04/25/19
Usually by now there’s a pretty clear indication what will happen with the first pick but the odds have actually moved in the other direction. A month ago oddsmakers had Kyler Murray listed at -400, and a few days ago it had moved to -600. Right now you could get him at better value at -375, which seems to offer you an opportunity you can take advantage of.
A couple days ago Kyler Murray was -600 to go No. 1. He is down to -350. Nick Bosa next at +400. #NFLDraft odds> https://t.co/jgy0ltb2F9
— Dave Mason (@DaveMasonBOL) April 24, 2019
What Will The Arizona Cardinals Do?
The Kyler Murray versus Josh Rosen debate has raged on for months now – will the Cardinals move on from the UCLA QB they took in the first-round a year ago, or will they stick with him and add a top shelf defensive player like Nick Bosa or Quinnen Williams?
Ranking the rookie QBs from the 2018 NFL season, @dannykanell gives his grades.
Baker Mayfield: A+ (on the field)/C (off the field)
Lamar Jackson: B-
Sam Darnold: C+
Josh Allen: C-
Josh Rosen: INC pic.twitter.com/ToRA7abIcP
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) April 23, 2019
If the Cardinals do move on from Rosen they should have multiple teams interested in trading for him. So choosing Murray could also land them extra draft picks for this season which could help if that’s the decision they choose to make.
I think it’s still likely the Cardinals take the reigning Heisman Trophy winner at number one and I’m even more encouraged to make the selection with one other important factor working in favor of Murray going first.
Could Raiders, Giants or Dolphins Trade Up to Take Murray?
The bet says nothing about the Cardinals being the team to make the first selection, it only requires Murray to be taken off the board first. If Arizona decides they’d prefer Bosa, Williams, or another player on their board, they could put the pick up for auction and would have multiple suitors. The New York Giants and Miami Dolphins are almost certainly looking for quarterbacks in the first-round, and the Oakland Raiders are always candidates to do something unpredictable.
Sources: #Raiders coach Jon Gruden and GM Mike Mayock sent their scouts home for the weekend and they are not expected to return by draft time. The belief is they don’t know who to trust and wanted to clear the room.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 19, 2019
Considering you win this bet no matter who takes Murray first overall, I think it’s still the overwhelmingly likely outcome tonight in Tennessee. Don’t look at the new price as a warning but instead a chance to score with some terrific value. Take Murray to go first overall and don’t look back.
Pick: Kyler Murray (-375)
Ryan has been working at TSN for over eleven years, and is now a lead writer and content producer at That's Hockey. Over the years, he's launched and hosted TSN's first NCAAF podcast, The College Football Show, and been featured on the likes of TSN 1050, Sportscentre, and That's Hockey 2Nite.
