NFL Draft 2024 Betting Odds, Projections, and Best Bets

NFL Draft 2024 Betting Odds, Projections, and Best Bets

The 2024 NFL Draft odds are clear – Caleb Williams is going to be the top pick this year. It’s hard to argue against that, and there’s not much value backing him, but the best NFL bookies online have other exciting markets for the next class of football talents.

 I explore the latest NFL draft betting odds and share my predictions in this article. I’ve included a bunch of markets, so make sure to check them out before placing your wagers on the NFL Draft this year!


2024 NFL Draft First Pick Odds and Predictions

Here are the odds for the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, courtesy of Bovada:

  • Caleb Williams: -20000
  • Jayden Daniels: +2500
  • Drake Maye: +4000
  • Marvin Harrison Jr: +5000
  • J. McCarthy: +6000
  • Bo Nix: +12500
  • Michael Hall Jr: +12500
  • Michael Penix Jr: +15000

The first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft again belongs to the Chicago Bears, and their choice seems obvious. Caleb Williams is the clear-cut favorite to be the first overall pick, and those odds have only risen in recent weeks.

Williams won the Heisman Trophy during the 2022 college football season and posted video game-like numbers at USC. The Bears need a franchise quarterback, and Williams has all the traits to be a star in the NFL.

However, if anyone in the class has a (slight) chance to knock off Williams from the No. 1 spot, it’s LSU QB Jayden Daniels. There wasn’t a better quarterback in college football last season, as Daniels scored 50 touchdowns in 12 games in the SEC.

He’s one of the most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks to enter the NFL Draft in some time, and his stock is soaring right now. It’s still unlikely he will be a threat to go at No. 1, but he probably feels confident to get picked earlier than every other player in this class not named Caleb Williams.

Williams has been locked into the No. 1 spot for several years now, and nothing has changed as we get closer to the draft. His playmaking and his incredible arm talent make him a perfect fit in Chicago as they search for their next franchise quarterback.

While Williams is a lock to be the No. 1 pick, there is no value on this bet given the odds. I can’t recommend betting on the obvious prediction because the bookies did their homework. Fortunately, there are better prop bets regarding the NFL Draft, as you can see in the next section.

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More 2024 NFL Draft Prop Bets and Predictions

While Caleb Williams likely has the No. 1 overall pick locked up, the rest of the 2024 NFL Draft is up for grabs. We have plenty of opportunities to bet on the order, starting with the second pick.

No. 2 Overall Pick In 2024 NFL Draft Odds and Betting Pick

Here are the odds on who will be the second pick in this year’s draft, again available at Bovada:

  • Jayden Daniels: -150
  • Drake Maye: +125
  • J. McCarthy: +1200
  • Bo Nix: +10000
  • Brock Bowers: +10000

The No. 2 pick currently belongs to the Washington Commanders, who are most likely going after a quarterback, too.

The favorite at No. 2 was Drake Maye from North Carolina, but he has now slipped a bit. Going into the 2023 season, Maye and Williams were neck-and-neck for who would be the top player selected in this class. While Maye certainly didn’t have a bad season, Williams did appear to separate himself.

The former Tar Heels quarterback is still one of the most intriguing players in this class with his size, athleticism, and arm talent. And yet, he has fallen a bit in the odds and is the second most likely favorite for the 2nd pick.

Photo of Jardan Daniels during the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Jayden Daniels went from a slight underdog to a slight favorite for no. 2 pick [AP Photo: Chris O’Meara]

My early pick Jayden Daniels, who was a slight underdog at +110, is now the favorite. New head coach Dan Quinn has expressed how he would like a mobile quarterback to run his team, and there isn’t a better dual-threat option on the roster.

Daniels could bring star power to the Commanders, who desperately need it after several lackluster seasons. The odds for him are not as good as they were a month ago, but I still think backing Daniels makes sense.

The Bet
Jayden Daniels

NFL Draft 2024 First Defensive Player Selected Odds and Pick

Here is a look at the odds for the first defensive player to be picked in this year’s draft, as found at Bovada:

  • Dallas Turner: -110
  • Quinyon Mitchell: +375
  • Jared Verse: +450
  • Terrion Arnold: +650
  • Laiatu Latu: +900
  • Byron Murphy: +2000

There is an excellent chance that the first defensive player is selected outside the top 10 picks. With so many elite quarterbacks, wide receivers, and offensive tackles in this class, the defensive players could fall. But who will be the first defensive player off the board?

The favorite is Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner, who led the SEC in sacks (10) in 2023. Turner ran a stunning 4.46 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and has all the traits to be a star pass rusher in the NFL. He is widely regarded as a top-15 pick in this year’s draft, but he is far from a lock to be the first defensive player drafted.

The player with the most value to be the first defensive player off the board is Turner’s teammate, cornerback Terrion Arnold. Despite playing just two seasons at Alabama, Arnold quickly became one of the best defensive backs in the country. He totaled five interceptions during the 2023 season, and his ability to play outside and in the slot will make him a very coveted target early in the draft.

Another player to watch here is Texas DT Byron Murphy, who had a breakout season in 2023. He recorded 8.5 tackles for a loss and five sacks as Texas made it to the College Football Playoffs. Murphy had an incredible combine performance, running in the 4.8s at nearly 300 pounds. He is the top defensive tackle in this class and should come off the board somewhere inside the top 15 picks.

The Bet
Terrion Arnold


2024 NFL Draft Odds and Predictions by Positions

We all have our guesses of who will be the No. 1 pick, but who will be the first WR off the board? What about the first offensive lineman?

Here are some NFL Draft odds and predictions by positions heading into April. All of these odds have come from Bovada.

1st QB Selected During NFL Draft 2024 Odds and Prediction

  • Caleb Williams: -20000
  • Jayden Daniels: +3000
  • Drake Maye: +4000
  • J. McCarthy: +5000

This one is pretty cut and dry as the odds are essentially the same as who will be the No. 1 pick. Caleb Williams is the clear-cut favorite to be the first pick, with his odds dropping from -1200 to -20000 closer to the draft. Once again, Jayden Daniels has the second-best odds at +3000 with Drake Maye (+4000) and J.J. McCarthy (+5000) behind him.

It would be a major shock if anyone, but Williams were the No. 1 pick at this point. And it would be an all-time upset if a quarterback wasn’t drafted at No. 1. I expect things to go as planned, with the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner going to the Bears. Again, the odds are too short to back him with a bet, though.

NFL Draft 2024 1st WR Selected During Odds and Prediction

  • Marvin Harrison Jr: -700
  • Malik Nabers: +450
  • Rome Odunze: +3000
  • Adonai Mitchell: +10000

Much like the quarterback decision, the top receiver in this class has been etched into stone for several years. Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State) is regarded as a generational receiver prospect and the best non-quarterback in this class. He put up monster numbers in the Big Ten over the last two seasons, and his game has only improved.

It’s pretty much a lock that he is a top-five pick, and his most likely landing spot is to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 4. However, it is worth mentioning that Malik Nabers is in the conversation to be the first receiver drafted after totaling 1,570 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns in the SEC this season.

Some NFL draft pundits believe that Nabers’ game better translates to the next level and could go ahead of Harrison.

Still, Harrison should be picked first and likely drafted inside the top four. That doesn’t leave much wiggle room for any other receiver to go ahead of him, especially in a strong quarterback draft.

NFL Draft 2024 1st Offensive Lineman Selected Betting Odds and Pick

  • Joe Alt: -600
  • C. Latham: +1200
  • Taliese Fuaga: +1200
  • Olumuyiwa Fashanu: +1400
  • Troy Fautanu: +1400

This is one of the best offensive line classes in recent memory, with as many as six offensive tackles expected to be picked in the first 20 selections. But who will be the first offensive lineman on the board?

The favorite is Notre Dame star LT Joe Alt, a 2023 consensus All-American. He dominated the NFL Combine, running a 5.05 40-yard dash at nearly 6-9. He is a mountain of a man who rarely lost in pass protection last season. He is expected to be the first offensive lineman off the board, and his position has only solidified as we got closer to the draft.

The other name to watch here is Oregon State RT Taliese Fuaga, who has dominated the pre-draft process. After an incredible season in the Pac-12, Fuaga has established himself as a lock top-12 pick and could go much higher.

Teams searching for immediate offensive line help could look to Fuaga to shore up the right side of their line. Still, beating Alt looks very unlikely.

The same applies to Olumuyiwa Fashan and J.C. Latham, two excellent players. They are great offensive line prospects from big schools. Both could be top-10 picks, but can they go over the favorite?

I expect Alt to ultimately come off the board somewhere in the top seven selections and to be the first offensive lineman drafted.

Joe Alt running drills at the NFL football scouting combine.
Joe Alt comes in with strong odds after dominating the scouting combine [AP Photo: Darron Cummings]


Best NFL Draft 2024 Player Props

Not only can NFL bettors wager on who will go No. 1 and who will be the first WR/OL off the board, but they can also place a bet on where a specific player will land.

Here are some of the top player prop bets ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft via Bovada:

J.J. McCarthy’s Next Team Odds and Predictions

  • Denver Broncos: +350
  • Minnesota Vikings: +375
  • Las Vegas Raiders: +600
  • Atlanta Falcons: +700
  • New York Giants: +700
  • New England Patriots: +750

No player in the NFL Draft is hotter right now than J.J. McCarthy. Going into the season, he was viewed as an early Day 2 pick who had a chance to sneak into Round 1. Now, it seems he is a lock to be a top 10 pick and could go higher than anyone anticipates.

The Broncos are the betting favorites to land McCarthy, and that makes a lot of sense. Denver just released Russell Wilson and needs a new franchise quarterback to run Sean Payton’s offense. The team currently owns the No. 12 pick, so they would likely need to execute a trade-up to acquire McCarthy. But that certainly isn’t an issue if they believe McCarthy is a franchise-changing quarterback.

One of the reasons the Broncos might need to trade up is because of the Vikings sitting at No. 11. With Kirk Cousins likely leaving in free agency, Minnesota could use a quarterback of the future. They currently have the second-best odds to land McCarthy at +375.

The most interesting team on the list is the New England Patriots at No. 3. They also need a quarterback but are likely to miss out on the top two passers in the draft. Could they select McCarthy over Drake Maye? Or could they slide back a few spots in the draft and then pick McCarthy a little later? Time will tell, but the Patriots are a big value at +750 to land the National Championship-winning QB.

Still, getting +350 for the Broncos is the best bet at this point. The odds are high enough and I expect them to try their best.

The Bet
Denver Broncos

Brock Bowers’ Next Team Odds and Betting Pick

  • Los Angeles Chargers: +185
  • Cincinnati Bengals: +700
  • Indianapolis Colts: +750
  • New York Jets: +750
  • Tennessee Titans: +1000
  • Denver Broncos: +1200

Brock Bowers is the consensus top tight end in the 2024 NFL Draft and is widely viewed as one of the top 10 players in the class. But the positional value of the tight end position could cause him to fall during the NFL Draft. So, where might he end up going in Round 1?

The Los Angeles Chargers are the favorites to land Bowers at +185. Los Angeles holds the No. 5 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and new head coach Jim Harbaugh loves having athletic tight ends in his offense. However, picking a tight end at No. 5 may prove too rich for the Chargers, especially with their needs on the offensive line.

After the Chargers, there is a huge drop-off in odds for a team to land Bowers. The best bet on the board is the Denver Broncos at +1200, who are slated to pick at No. 12. Sean Payton has had a ton of success using the tight end in his offense and turned Jimmy Graham into a superstar.

With all of the uncertainty at wide receiver for the Broncos, adding a dynamic weapon for whoever is under center for the Broncos is appealing. This might contradict with my previous pick, but it serves as a back up instead.

If Denver keeps Kirk Cousins and doesn’t go for a QB, Bowers is a very likely target.

The Bet
Denver Broncos
+1200


Best NFL Draft 2024 Team Props

One of the markets that has risen in popularity over the last few years is team prop bets regarding the NFL Draft. Players can wager on which team will select a specific player, but you can also bet on which position each team selects with their first pick.

Here are a few of my favorite bets currently on the board at Bovada:

Dallas Cowboys – Position of 1st Drafted Player In 2024 NFL Draft:

  • Offensive Line: +115
  • Defensive Line/EDGE: +350
  • Cornerback: +400
  • Linebacker: +700
  • Wide Receiver: +750

Coming off their third-straight 12-win season, the Cowboys have a lot of needs going into the NFL Draft. But if there is one thing that we’ve come to know about this team, it’s that they love to draft players on the offensive and defensive line in Round 1.

With Tyron Smith not expected to return this offseason, the Cowboys have a need at left tackle. They could also use a center with Tyler Biadasz set to hit the open market. This is a deep draft for offensive linemen, and it’s not a surprise that there is where the Cowboys are favored to go in Round 1.

The best value bet on the board is wide receiver at +750. Brandin Cooks has just one year left on his deal, and Michael Gallup is expected to be released this offseason.

Michael Gallup after playing against Carolina Panthers on November 19th, 2023.
Michael Gallup is expected to be let go by the Cowboys this offseason [AP Photo: Brian Westerholt]

CeeDee Lamb is coming off the best receiving season in Cowboys’ history, but they need to find another weapon to pair him with for the future. Texas WRs Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy would both make sense at No. 24, as would LSU WR Brian Thomas.

Still, the best bet on the board is an offensive line as the Cowboys try to beef up that unit this offseason. Even if Tyron Smith does return, look for the Cowboys to grab his potential replacement in Round 1.

The Bet
Offensive Line

New York Jets – Position of 1st Drafted Player In 2024 NFL Draft:

  • Offensive Line: -225
  • Wide Receiver: +325
  • Defensive Line: +700
  • Tight End: +850

The safest bet on the board is the Jets taking an offensive lineman in Round 1. They need help at both offensive tackle spots, and this is a really good draft at that position. It’s unlikely that Joe Alt (Notre Dame) will be on the board when they pick, but the rest of the offensive line prospects should be available.

However, there’s another interesting angle for the more opportunistic among you. The sneaky bet here is to wager on the Jets selecting a tight end in Round 1. In the section above, the odds for the Jets to land Brock Powers were listed at +750. The smarter way to bet on Bowers landing in New York is to bet on the Jets taking a tight end with their first pick. Those odds are set at +850, and there is no other tight end in this class worthy of a first-round pick.

The Jets must find another weapon to complement Garrett Wilson, and adding Bowers in the middle of the field makes a lot of sense. And at +850, the odds are very intriguing, and I can recommend a small wager on that one.

Still, the safe bet here is to go for offensive line, and that’s why I recommend to the more conservative football gamblers.

The Bet
Offensive Line


Where to Bet on the NFL Draft in 2024?

The NFL Draft has gained even more in popularity over the last few years and has become one of the bigger events to wager on in the NFL. Feel free to check our NFL betting guide for some help.

With so many different team and player prop bets available for the NFL Draft, there are endless possibilities. Be sure to check out all of the odds and lines for the upcoming NFL Draft on Bovada.

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About the Author
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Marcus Mosher
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Marcus Mosher is an NFL analyst at Pro Football Focus, residing in Erie, PA. He covers the NFL from a betting and fantasy perspective, producing written and video content. Marcus currently hosts multiple football-related podcasts and is a managing editor at USA Today's Sports Media Group, covering the Las Vegas Raiders.

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