Who Are the Favorites to Go No. 1 in The NFL Draft?
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On Wednesday night, Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson made it official, announcing his intentions to enter the NFL draft.
After a stellar junior season that ended with him as a Heisman finalist, Hutchinson is at the top of numerous mock drafts and big boards. He’s also currently the betting at DraftKings Sportsbook to become the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft.
NFL Draft Order Set
The NFL draft order was also set after the Week 18 games. Despite winning its regular-season finale against the Indianapolis Colts, the Jacksonville Jaguars earned the No. 1 pick for the second consecutive year.
Jacksonville is followed by the Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, New York Jets and New York Giants to round out the top five.
The complexion of this betting prop could change if Jacksonville decides to trade out of the top spot. But as it stands, here is a rundown of the NFL betting favorites to go No. 1 in the upcoming draft.
Aidan Hutchinson -110
At 6-foot-6, 265 pounds, many analysts see Hutchinson as the premier combination of size, power and athleticism to complement his wide array of pass-rushing moves.
Hutchinson was projected as a top 10 pick before the season but played himself into No. 1 pick discussion after a productive junior year. He recorded 62 tackles, 14 sacks and forced two fumbles.
Hutchinson' s signature performance came against rival Ohio State when he tallied seven tackles and three sacks in the 42-27 win over the Buckeyes.
Kayvon Thibodeaux +110
Oregon’s Thibodeaux was considered the consensus No. 1 pick before the season started because of his burst off the line and flashes of athletic excellence he has displayed throughout his career. He was limited a bit by injuries, missing four games and portions of others. Still, he recorded seven sacks and 49 tackles during the season.
Evan Neal +750
If the Jaguars elect to pass on either of the top two pass-rushing prospects, Alabama starting left tackle Evan Neal becomes an interesting target. Neal is the top lineman prospect in the draft and would immediately provide stability to Jacksonville’s offensive line.
Adding Neal to protect last year’s No. 1 pick, quarterback Trevor Lawrence, would provide a foundation for Jacksonville to continue to develop its offense around two key positions.
Kenny Pickett +1000
The only way the former Pittsburgh quarterback goes No. 1 is if Jacksonville trades out of the No. 1 spot. It would take a special sort of ineptness for the Jaguars to draft Pickett and keep him on the roster a year after taking Lawrence.
During his senior season, Pickett led Pittsburgh to an ACC championship while completing 67% of his passes for 4,319 yards, 42 touchdowns and just seven interceptions.
Pickett is considered one of the top quarterback prospects this draft. But the position is considered down compared to recent years. If there’s a team out there that falls in love with him during the combine and scouting process, it could trade up and grab Pickett at No. 1, which is the only way this prop bet would hit.
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