2022 NFL Draft Player Position Props and Specials: Draft Position for Players Chosen in Round 1

Mike Spector

Last Updated: April 27, 2022 8:44 AM EDT • 4 min 43 sec read. Twitter link Google News Link

The first round of the NFL Draft is less than 72 hours away, which means there is still plenty of time to place wagers on sportsbooks' various offerings. Accordingly, we offer our best NFL Draft odds and bets from a player position viewpoint.

To be successful with NFL Draft wagering, many would argue that one needs to closely follow the social media accounts of various organizations, as teams often tip their hands about their draft plans or which players they covet. In addition, it would benefit one to familiarize themselves with several mock drafts to get a clearer sense of the draft order and each team's needs. Of course, all that intel could quickly go out the window with unexpected draft day trades, but it is better to be over-prepared than under-prepared when it comes to the NFL Draft.

Here are our best bets for the NFL Draft player position specials market (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

NFL Draft Player Position Specials Prop Picks

Kayvon Thibodeaux Over/Under 4.5 draft position: Under 4.5 (-165)?????Chris Olave O/U 16.5 draft position: Over 16.5 (-105)????Malik Willis O/U 10.5 draft position: Under 10.5 (+100)???Travon Walker O/U 3.5 draft position: Under 3.5 (-550)?????Kyle Hamilton O/U 10.5 draft position: Over 10.5 (-175)????Jameson Williams O/U 11.5 draft position: Under 11.5 (-130)???Garrett Wilson O/U 9.5 draft position: Under 9.5 (+100)?????Ahmad Gardner O/U 5.5 draft position: Under 5.5 (-125)????Garrett Wilson first wide receiver selected (+120)?????Evan Neal first offensive lineman selected (+150)???

NFL Draft Player Position Specials Prop Bets

Thibodeaux draft position: Under 4.5 (-165)

It is a surprise to see Thibodeaux's draft position odds not juiced more to the Under of 4.5, given that there are not many conceivable scenarios where he falls lower than the No. 4 pick to the New York Jets.

The first two picks are likely to be Aidan Hutchinson and Travon Walker (in no particular order). And while the Houston Texans could potentially use the No. 3 pick to bolster the offensive line, DraftKings has set the odds for the Texans to more likely take a defensive lineman or edge rusher (+100). Thus, bettors may not even need to sweat out New York taking Thibodeaux with the fourth pick when making this wager.

Olave draft position: Over 16.5 (-105)

Olave is in the same tier of wide receiver prospects as his Ohio State teammate Garrett Wilson, USC's Drake London, and Alabama's Jameson Williams, depending on who you ask. Others see a separation between the top three receivers and Olave. If Olave were to go to the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 15, it would not be surprising.

However, that would be the most likely way to lose a bet on the Over with Olave at 16.5, as the New Orleans Saints at No. 16 has more pressing needs at quarterback and offensive line than they do at wide receiver. We might even see the Saints trade back out of this pick if they seriously consider drafting Olave.

Willis draft position: Under 10.5 (+100)

This Under bet may cash as early as the No. 6 pick when the Carolina Panthers are on the board. However, if Willis is not chosen with the sixth pick, we still like the value of +100 odds on the Under as a team desperately needing a quarterback could trade into the top ten to get him.

https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1518575649379786753

Walker draft position: Under 3.5 (-550)

Many will be turned off by the massive -550 odds for Walker's draft position prop bet.

However, if you like free money (albeit with a minimal return), Walker is a lock to be drafted in the top three. It is more likely he would go No. 1 overall than he would be slipping to No. 4 or lower.

Hamilton draft position: Over 10.5 (-175)

Usually, players sliding in the draft do not make news until draft day, but the Notre Dame safety may already have slipped way down teams' draft boards. A poor combine performance did not do Hamilton any favors, as his 40-yard dash was in the low 4.7s. Couple that with an injury that derailed half of his junior year, and Hamilton went from a bonafide top-five pick to a player that will likely fall out of the top ten.

Williams draft position: Under 11.5 (-130)

Provided that teams are convinced Williams is fully recovered from an ACL tear he suffered at Alabama, the electric wide receiver should be a lock to go in the top 11.

Williams has the second-best odds to be the first wide receiver taken, behind Garrett Wilson. That is important considering many project the Jets to take a wide receiver with their second pick at No. 10, and that pick should conceivably come down to Williams or Drake London. Thus, we will ride with DraftKings' odds that it will be Williams while still leaving us another chance for him to be drafted at No. 11 by the Washington Commanders.

Wilson draft position: Under 9.5 (+100)

We do not have too many likely chances to cash this bet outside of Wilson going No. 8 to Atlanta. But since that is where we think he lands, we cannot wait to jump on the plus-money odds. Wilson to the Falcons makes too much sense considering Calvin Ridley has been suspended for all of 2022 for gambling on NFL games.

The Falcons' roster has many holes, but they have the chance to add the best wide receiver in this class with their first-round pick.

Gardner draft position: Under 5.5 (-125)

We fully expect Gardner to be taken by the New York Giants with one of their first two picks (No. 5 or No. 7), but it is just a matter of determining which one they use on the cornerback from Cincinnati. If three defensive linemen or edge rushers get selected within the first four picks, the Giants would seemingly have their choice of one of the draft's top offensive linemen.

The most likely scenario is that they take Gardner with the No. 5 pick (or he is selected by another team earlier), as long as one of Evan Neal, Ikem Ekwonu, or Charles Cross is still there for the Giants to draft at No. 7.

https://twitter.com/iamSauceGardner/status/1517241668453421058

Wilson first wide receiver selected (+120)

In a sense, we are doubling down with Wilson to be the first wide receiver selected after we pegged him to be taken within the first nine picks. Unless a team trades into the top seven to take a different wide receiver, none of the teams at the top of the draft have a wideout as the top priority.

Thus, we expect Atlanta to drool over Wilson's 70 catches, 1,058 yards, and 12 TDs stat line from a year ago and run this pick to the commissioner if he is still available at No. 8.

Neal first offensive lineman selected (+150)

Neal is in competition with Ekwonu and Cross to be the first offensive lineman drafted. And while Ekwonu has the shortest odds (-185), we are taking a chance that a team falls in love with Neal's Alabama pedigree and that Nick Saban coached him throughout his entire college career.

In addition, Neal played three different positions on the offensive line in college, so he is arguably the most versatile (and talented) lineman in the draft.

Where to Bet on the NFL Draft

Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:

FanDuel Sportsbook Caesars Sportsbook DraftKings Sportsbook PointsBet review BetMGM

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Written By:
Mike Spector

Mike started in the sports writing industry in July 2019, and gained a lot of followers in his first year after finishing with the No. 2 overall record in an annual NFL betting competition, which made picks against the spread, and from an Over/Under and moneyline perspective. Mike is an avid fan of the NFL, MLB, tennis, and all college sports. In his opinion, March Madness is the best sporting event there is, and he's especially euphoric starting with conference tournament time in college basketball. Mike's a big advocate of "fading the public" and making plays that are contrarian, constantly citing that "there are reasons why they have those big shiny buildings in Las Vegas." When making wagers, Mike always scours the best odds at all of the major sports betting sites, where he mostly sifts through DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and bet365. He's tried several others and is of the firm belief that bettors should not just stick to one sportsbook, as there is always likely better value to be had with the same wager. In addition, while Mike received his undergraduate degree from Villanova University, he has no issue betting against the Wildcats when it comes to college basketball wagering, and suggests other bettors should always put their “head” before their “hearts.”