Early odds, betting insights for the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft
The 2019 NFL season has yet to begin, but it's never too early to look ahead to the upcoming draft. Even better, you can already wager on which player will be selected No. 1 overall in 2020. Multiple sportsbooks have released early odds, and the current favorite is Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Tua opened at odds of 1-2 to be the first player off the board, followed by Oregon QB Justin Herbert (4-1) and Georgia QB Jake Fromm (7-1). It's not surprising to see three quarterbacks top the list. Since 2000, a QB has been selected No. 1 overall 14 times.
Meanwhile, Tua is coming off a stellar season in which he threw for 3,966 yards, 43 touchdowns, and six interceptions despite not playing in the fourth quarter until the ninth game. He's currently the co-favorite to win the Heisman Trophy along with Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence (who can't be drafted until 2021) at 3-1. Herbert and Fromm are both listed at 20-1 to win the Heisman.
Here is a complete list of the odds to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft:
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tua Tagovailoa | 1-2 |
| Justin Herbert | 4-1 |
| Jake Fromm | 7-1 |
| Andrew Thomas | 16-1 |
| Chase Young | 20-1 |
| Jerry Jeudy | 30-1 |
| Derrick Brown | 40-1 |
| Raekwon Davis | 40-1 |
| Walker Little | 50-1 |
| A.J. Epenesa | 50-1 |
Odds courtesy of the Westgate LV SuperBook
Betting against a quarterback hasn't typically been profitable, but based on some early mock drafts for 2020, there could be some value at other positions. Bleacher Report has Ohio State edge rusher Chase Young going No. 1 to the Redskins and Tua lasting until the Buccaneers at No. 8. USA Today's DraftWire agrees, giving Young to the Dolphins with the top pick. Young is 20-1 to go first overall at the Las Vegas SuperBook, but his odds shorten to 10-1 at New Jersey sportsbooks.
Additionally, a supporting argument against a quarterback going No. 1 in 2020 is that the NFL teams expected to pick early are largely set at the position.
The franchises with the lowest projected win totals for 2019 are the Cardinals, Dolphins, Giants, Bengals, Raiders, and Redskins. Arizona, New York, and Washington drafted a quarterback in Round 1 this year, while Miami traded for Josh Rosen. If Derek Carr plays well for a Raiders squad that added receiver Antonio Brown this offseason, there's a realistic chance that out of those teams, only the Bengals will be in the market for a quarterback when next year's draft rolls around.
One player who offers value is Auburn DT Derrick Brown. Many feel Brown is the clear-cut No. 1 defensive tackle heading into the season. At 6-foot-5, 318 pounds, he has the versatility to play inside or outside in the NFL. The consensus opinion in early mocks is that Brown will be a top-five pick. Whether he goes No. 1 or not, Brown won't be sitting at 40-1 odds in April if he produces another dominant season for an Auburn defense that's expected to be one of the nation's best.
a DT Spotlight a
- NCAAF Nation (@NCAAFNation247) July 30, 2019
Derrick Brown - Auburn
- Brown is one of the top returning players in all of #CFB. He could've been a 1st round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft but decided to return to Auburn. Last season he had 48 Tackles, 4.5 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss and 6 QB hits " pic.twitter.com/nn9BcHMRmS
If you want to get in early on the 2020 draft, consider grabbing Brown at 40-1. He'll be right in the mix to go No. 1 overall if a team like the Giants or Cardinals ends up with the top pick.
Copyright (C) 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.