This article has been constructed with odds using FanDuel Illinois. The odds are subject to change due to public perception and general line movement and may shift during the course of the next few weeks.
While there is a multitude of prop bets available for the upcoming draft, these lines represent what our experts believe are the soundest ones to consider throughout the process.
First Tight End Selected
- Michael Mayer +100
- Dalton Kincaid +150
- Darnell Washington +350
- Luke Musgrave +2500
- Sam Laporta +5000
- Tucker Kraft +10 000
This group is a classic three-horse race depending on what type of tight end you prefer. Most scouts and pundits consider Mayer as the top guy, in particular, due to his ability to be plug and play and the refinement that already exists within his game.
Kincaid and Washington both have kinks to iron out before their game is top-notch and while good blockers like Kincaid historically have a solid place in the modern NFL, it is not something that a team is looking to spend a top pick on.
First OL Drafted
- Paris Johnson JR. -150
- Peter Skoronski +220
- Broderick Jones +430
- Darnell Wright +1700
This market is perhaps the most volatile, and ideal if you have a differing perspective on how Skoronski projects to the NFL. The modern NFL values tackle over guards and place a premium on players like Johnson who naturally projects as one.
Skoronskis’ smaller frame and shorter arms projects better as a guard even though he has tackle skills and experience, leading to many pundits downgrading him for virtually no other reason.
We also ought to take into account that Chicago is currently looking to sure up the offensive line, and Skoronskis’s familiarity with the region as a Northwestern player is sure to have a positive impact on the Bear’s 9th overall pick.
First Cornerback Drafted
- Devon Witherspoon -115
- Christian Gonzales -115
- Joey Porter Jr +2000
- Brian Branch +2500
- Deonte Banks +5000
Interestingly enough, in a draft that does not see many Illinois prospects, Witherspoon emerges as the top pick of a position group. We project this market to be incredibly hard to determine.
While this is essentially only going to come down to two guys, they are equally as likely to be picked in the draft and there is no clear frontrunner from our sources, or the teams themselves. You would be better off flipping a coin.
First WR Drafted
- Jaxson Smith Njigba -200
- Zay Flowers +400
- Quentin Johnson +600
- Jordan Addison +800
This group is a potential source of value bets for people looking to play futures markets. Smith Njigba is a runaway favorite who sat out last year and if this becomes part of the media cycle fueling the draft, it could also be a cause of concern.
Zay Flowers and Quentin Johnson are both incredible, capable receivers who played last year and if teams prioritized someone who had recent good showings with added longevity, they could be bumped up in the draft order.
Concluding thoughts on the groups
While tight end seemingly is the group with the best degree of odds parity, it is also a deceptively good market. With all the other positional groups having high degrees of concern, Michael Mayer emerges as the only bonafide prospect to stand as a surefire pick within his group.
Njigba has raised some red flags having been away from the game a year, Paris Johnson’s odds are largely propped up due to Skoronski being labeled a guard by the media and CB is basically a coin flip between Witherspoon and Gonzales. Nothing is a surefire pick, but the tight-end class seems as clear-cut as ever.
Make sure to follow us for more news about legal sports betting in the state of Illinois.
