Finding Value in NFL Draft Betting Odds

NCAA college athletes will be playing their hearts out for the upcoming months, to try to secure a position within the NFL. Scouts and teams will be watching closely, as will anyone interested in betting on the players' odds. Many sportsbooks are already offering NFL Draft odds, and you can use an odds converter to find out the implied probabilities from current sportsbook odds and monitor the odds movements as the draft approaches. An injury could remove someone from the first round just like a strong NFL Combine performance can propel someone to become an early pick (see Anthony Richardson at the 2023 NFL Combine).

Draft Betting Is Like Its Own Sport

When it comes to betting on the odds of a player being chosen for an NFL team, things can get heated in the betting area. There are a variety of considerations to take into account and a variety of different bets available when it comes to draft betting. As with any bet, you need to estimate the expected value of your wager. The benefit of knowing how to find positive EV bets is that over the long run, if you consistently make bets that have a positive expectation, you'll make money. 

When it comes to the different bets available, one of the most popular ones is on which player will be the first overall pick in the draft.  After that, there is an entire array of different bets that can be placed. Here are some examples: 

• First two picks in order 
• Second overall pick, third overall pick, fourth overall pick etc. 
• First player drafted by their position (quarterbacks, running backs, etc.)
• Top picks i.e. top 5 picks, top 10 picks
• First player chosen by a team
• Total number of players drafted by position
• Total number of players drafted by school

States Eligible for NFL Draft Betting

Here is the list of states that were allowed to bet on the NFL Draft in 2023. These rules are always subject to change so make sure to investigate the current regulations in your local jurisdiction before you start researching your 2024 NFL Draft bets

• Colorado 
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Louisiana 
• Maryland
• Michigan 
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey 
• Ohio
• Oregon 
• Tennessee
• West Virginia 
• Washington, DC
• Wyoming

Top 15 Current Favorites for the NFL Draft Pick

When it comes to betting, knowing which player you want to bet for is massively important. Bettors watch college games and keep a watchful eye on certain players over the player's entire college career. There are always top choices for the draft pick, which can change but is a great starting point for anyone looking to place a bet. 

USC quarterback Caleb Williams is the consensus top choice, but like with any other player, injuries, performance and other factors can influence where they'll ultimately fall on the draft board.

The list of our top 15 NFL draft prospects are as follows:

1. Caleb Williams, QB, USC

2. Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina 

3. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State 

4. Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas

5. Olumuyiwa Fashanu, QB, Penn State 

6. Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

7. Joe Alt, OL, Notre Dame 

8. J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

9. Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

10. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

11. Jared Verse, DE, Florida State 

12. Laiatu Latu, DL, UCLA

13. Bo Nix, QB, Oregon 

14. J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama

15. Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU