Offensive Linemen Could Dominate NFL Draft Round 1
OL Feature in QB-Heavy NFL Draft First-Round Positions
The NFL Draft is set to begin on Thursday night, and the talk has been about the quarterbacks atop mock drafts. But, as is often the case, when teams want to improve their NFL odds of going to the Super Bowl, they eschew the flashy picks of position players. They go with the offensive linemen who can protect and do the dirty work.
That might be the early objective of several NFL teams this season, as looking at the betting odds for positions to be taken in the first round on Thursday night, offensive linemen lead the way. Defensive linemen and cornerbacks are also considered to be high priorities for teams in the first round, with the quarterback number also quite high.
Let’s take a closer look at the positions that will likely be called out a lot and possible betting you can do on them.
Offensive Linemen Lead The Parade
The betting odds for the number of offensive linemen that will be selected in Thursday’s first round is about the same on most betting sites. Looking at FanDuel, it has set 9.5 as the number of offensive linemen to be first-round picks, with the over at -180 and the under +134.
At DraftKings Sportsbook, the over/under for offensive linemen has also been set at 9.5, with the over at -200 and the under at +160.
Notre Dame’s Joe Alt is considered a potential top-five pick, with offensive tackles Taliese Fuaga (Oregon State) and Olumuyiwa Fashanu (Penn State) both projected to be taken in the top 15 by some mock drafts. Others likely finding their way onto the first-round board are Alabama’s JC Latham, Washington’s Troy Fautanu, Georgia’s Amarius Mims, and Duke’s Graham Barton.
When making this bet, there is a lot to consider, however. Many general managers want to make a splashy first-round pick to appease the fans. Offensive linemen fill teams’ needs but fans may undervalue them. That is different with a position player.
QB Question Rules This Draft
The quarterback position has been the focus of the top of this year’s draft. It has been since last season when teams were supposedly tanking for the chance to select USC’s Caleb Williams. The consensus among most people is that Williams, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, and North Carolina’s Drake Maye will be the first three players taken. Hence, the first-round quarterback number will be high early.
But, will there be more than that trio and Michigan’s JJ McCarthy hearing their names called on Thursday night? That seems to be the question.
FanDuel has set the over/under for quarterbacks selected in the first round at 4.5, with the over getting -400 and the under +270. DraftKings has the number set at 4.5 as well, with -310 odds for the over and +240 for the under.
There is a lot of talk about Oregon’s Bo Nix being the fifth signal caller taken in the first round. He’s been linked to the Denver Broncos, who just traded for Zach Wilson but might want Nix for their future. Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. is another possibility for the fifth quarterback to be taken.
Defensive Linemen Popular As Well
When talking about NFL draft first-round positions, defensive linemen are almost always very popular among team executives and fans. An edge rusher brings thoughts of a dominating defense. Everyone loves to see a player who can pressure the opposing quarterback.
The position is thought to be popular again in 2024. Both FanDuel and DraftKings set the number with 6.5 taken in the first round. However, both have better odds for the under. FanDuel has the under at -280, with the over getting +200. DraftKings is set at -200 for the under and +160 for the over.
Alabama’s Dallas Turner, UCLA’s Laiatu Latu, and Florida State’s Jared Verse all seem to be first-round locks. But players like Penn State’s Chop Robinson and Illinois’ Jer’Zhan Newton are on the edge.
Depending on what teams are selecting at the end of the round – which could change a bunch with trades leading up to the picks – the number of defensive linemen taken could fluctuate quite a bit.
Wide Receivers Bring Flash To First Round
Another position to watch is wide receiver. Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., considered a top-five pick, leads the group. Just like defensive linemen, the number for both DraftKings and FanDuel is 6.5 for wideouts taken in the first round. The odds favor the under.
LSU’s Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., Washington’s Rome Odunze, and Texas’ Adonai Mitchell are all high up on most draft boards, but who will join them in the first round?
Mitchell’s teammate Xavier Worthy and Florida State’s Keon Coleman both are drawing interest. But again, it will likely come down to what teams hold the picks at the bottom of the first round when all trades have been made.
All of the NFL picks that we expect to be made and the order they’re made in are not going to happen on Thursday night.
Teams have thrown smokescreens to ensure they get the player they truly want. It’s going to be hard to know what’s right. But the over/under for positions are fun to try to bet and make winning picks.
For NFL betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
