The NFL Draft is taking place as scheduled April 23-25. The plans of it taking place on the Las Vegas Strip, however, have changed.
Announcement on the 2020 @NFLDraft plans: https://t.co/ekL3Lxj6IT
— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) March 16, 2020
This means NJ sports betting business is about to pick up.
Here is a small sampling of the NFL betting options for this year’s Draft:
- No. 1 overall pick
- School to have the most players drafted
- Conference with most first-round picks
Garden State bettors also have the option of putting money down on what the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants will do.
Here is a closer look at some of the odds.
Joe Burrow to Bengals at No. 1
Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow getting drafted No. 1 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals seems almost like a forgone conclusion at this point.
FanDuel Sportsbook has the current odds at -3500 (wager $35 to win $1). The quarterback is coming off a standout season in which he led the LSU Tigers to the College Football Playoff National Championship, a 42-25 win over Clemson.
In that game alone, Burrow threw for 463 yards and five touchdowns.
The Bengals, who are coming off an NFL worst 2-14 season, need to start thinking about the future. Veteran passer Andy Dalton remains under contract for the upcoming season but could be moved via trade.
As far as the possibility of the AFC North squad taking another player No. 1 goes, the odds make it seem highly likely.
This group rounds out the top five:
- Chase Young, defensive end +1400
- Tua Tagovailoa, quarterback +1900
- Andrew Thomas, offensive tackle +2700
- Justin Herbert, quarterback +3600
Dalton’s next team will be …
NJ sportsbooks are well aware Dalton could be playing for a different team when September rolls around.
Similar to Tom Brady before he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, bettors can wager on which team’s uniform Dalton will be wearing in the fall.
Keep in mind, though; it could take days, weeks or months to settle.
The Bengals remain a realistic possibility. BetMGM Sportsbook has the odds of it happening at +500.
Here is the breakdown for other potential destinations:
- Jaguars +200
- Chargers or Patriots +750
- Broncos +1000
- Redskins +1250
Will the Eagles draft a wide receiver?
It’s no secret that the defending NFC East champions need to make serious upgrades on their wide receiver.
DeSean Jackson is expected back, but the bigger concern is whether or not he’ll stay healthy. The veteran only played in three games last season due to injury.
Alshon Jeffery, who also missed significant time, could be playing for another team before the 2020 season starts.
Plus, Nelson Agholor just signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.
So, the Birds clearly have a major offensive need to address.
The #Eagles are putting a ton of pressure on the 2020 NFL Draft. Not only do they face the pressure to get a WR, but they are putting a ton of pressure on that WR to contribute right away. Not a great recipe for success.
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) March 24, 2020
From a betting perspective, here is FanDuel Sportsbook’s odds breakdown of potential picks:
- Justin Jefferson, LSU +140
- Henry Ruggs III, Alabama +600
- Denzel Mims, Baylor +700
- Jerry Jeudy, Alabama +800
- CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma +800
The bigger question is which of these names will still be on the board when the Birds pick at No. 21.
Moving up via a trade is another possibility.
New York Giants betting odds at No. 4
The Giants are coming off a 4-12 season, the second-worst record in the NFC.
They are a team in a rebuilding transition.
New York drafted Daniel Jones No. 6 overall last year. Now that two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning has retired, Jones has the spotlight all to himself.
He started 12 games last season and threw for 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. At the same time, opposing defenses sacked the rookie 38 times.
So, providing protection upfront is clearly an area to address.
DraftKings Sportsbook has odds on who the G-Men will select at No. 4 overall, which supports the scenario. Four of the top-five players who are listed play offensive line.
Only Isaiah Simmons (+350), a linebacker from Clemson, plays defense.
Here are some of the other names in the running:
- Mekhi Becton, Louisville +275
- Jedrick Wills, Alabama +350
- Tristan Wirfs, Iowa +350
- Andrew Thomas, Georgia +600
April 23 is still several weeks away, so we could see these numbers shift.
Either way, with the current shortage of MLB, NBA and NHL games, betting on the NFL, even if it is just the 2020 NFL Draft, can’t come soon enough.