2022 NFL Draft: Betting options for the first overall pick

The Super Bowl is now squarely in the rear view, and it's full steam ahead to free agency and the NFL Draft.

If you're looking for an NFL future bet to place that you'll be able to settle in two months, it's worth considering a bet on the first overall pick of the NFL Draft. The first round will take place on April 28.

Sportsbooks like DraftKings and FanDuel have given you the option to bet on the first pick for a few weeks now, and there has been significant line movement worth monitoring.

The Current Favorite

Left tackle Evan Neal is the odds-on favorite to go first to the Jacksonville Jaguars, with his current odds set at -130 on FanDuel.

Just a week ago, Neal was in the +200 range, so it's clear that significant money has been put on the Alabama tackle going #1 to Jacksonville.

It makes sense. The Jags had the top pick last year, drafting quarterback Trevor Lawrence from Clemson. It was a rough debut season for the former National Champion, and as the franchise's crown jewel, they need to protect their investment.

Neal makes a ton of sense, and much has been documented around new Jaguars coach Doug Pederson's affinity for offensive linemen.

It was the Philadelphia Eagles offensive line that put them in a position to win a Super Bowl a few years ago. Pederson puts a lot of stock into needing to have elite talent along the trenches.

If you want to follow the money and odds movement, you can still place a -130 bet on Neal going #1 to Jacksonville in April.

Other Betting Options

There's conceivably only three other options you could legitimately consider a bet on for #1, and they, like Neal, have one thing in common: they all play in the trenches.

Aidan Hutchinson (+250 FanDuel)

Hutchinson is an edge rusher from Michigan who had a fantastic 2021 season and has locked himself in to being one of the first few picks in the draft.

The Jaguars had the sixth-fewest sacks this past season, and truly have a roster with holes throughout.

Back to Pederson and the Eagles: the Super Bowl winning coach knows the importance of strong defensive linemen. Brandon Graham's strip sack of Tom Brady was the turning point in Super Bowl LII, and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox had dominant seasons during Pederson's tenure.

When looking at the free agency class this spring, which occurs before the draft, there appears to be more top-end edge-rusher talent available.

Jacksonville will have cap space at their disposal and may opt to juice up their line via free agency spending.

Ikem Ekwonu (+900 FanDuel)

Some sites grade Ekwonu, a tackle from NC State, as the better offensive line prospect. If you believe the Jaguars do opt to make protecting Lawrence their top priority, Ekwonu offers some tantalizing value at +900.

One has to believe that Neal's proven dominance and the fact he's coming from a championship roster will make him the preferred option for the Jaguars.

Kayvon Thibodeaux (+1100 FanDuel)

Thibodeaux was a popular name for the first pick during the season, at one time the favorite to go No. 1. He is still expected to go in the top-five, but it's unlikely Jacksonville makes him the top pick over guys like Neal and Hutchinson.