NFL draft odds: Becton a strong bet as 1st OL off board
Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.
With all of the hype surrounding this year's quarterback and wide receiver classes, it's easy to overlook the group of offensive linemen in next week's NFL draft. That's a mistake, as four linemen have top-10 upside, and it's one of the only position groups without a prohibitive favorite.
Iowa tackle Tristan Wirfs (+100) leads the field, but narrowly so, with Louisville's Mekhi Becton (+250), Alabama's Jedrick Wills Jr. (+275), and Georgia's Andrew Thomas close behind. Here are the odds for the first OL selected in the draft and the best value play:
| PLAYER | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Tristan Wirfs | +100 |
| Mekhi Becton | +250 |
| Jedrick Wills Jr. | +275 |
| Andrew Thomas | +850 |
| Josh Jones | +2500 |
| Austin Jackson | +6000 |
| Ezra Cleveland | +6000 |
Wirfs is the first lineman off the board in most mock drafts - with many slotting him in at No. 4 to the New York Giants - thanks to a stellar combine. A three-year starter at Iowa, Wirfs has experience in complex blocking schemes and will likely be an immediate contributor for whichever team selects him.
However, there's one drawback. Many see Wirfs as a guard at the next level, and scouts tend to rank him as the second- or third-best lineman in the class even as they project him to go first. Will that affect draft-day perceptions? It's nice value at even money, but don't bet the farm.
Mekhi Becton (+250)This is my favorite value on the board. Becton's rare blend of size, speed, and upside screams early pick - I mean, did you see his combine? He's generating more buzz ahead of the draft than most top linemen do in any year. If the Giants pass on Wirfs at No. 4, Becton has "first offensive lineman taken" written all over him.
Jedrick Wills Jr. (+275)Wills is a monster in the run game and as skilled as Wirfs with the potential dominance of Becton. However, he projects as a right tackle, which hurts his draft stock, and his developing pass protection likely won't compel a team to reach for him in a deep class. Don't place your money here.
Andrew Thomas (+850)Thomas has fallen as far as No. 14 in mock drafts, even though he's regarded as a consensus top-three prospect and even No. 1 in this class by many respected draftniks - it wasn't long ago when Thomas had respectable odds to go first overall. It's a long shot, but the odds should probably be shorter than they are.
C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.
Copyright (C) 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.