4 NFL Draft bets to make other than No. 1 pick, including C.J. Stroud's draft position
Welcome to the Winner’s Circle, a weekly column by Bet For The Win senior writer Prince J. Grimes.
The 2023 NFL Draft is still a few days away, but the No. 1 pick is apparently already decided, with Alabama quarterback Bryce Young’s odds to be selected with the first pick taking a huge leap last Monday and still holding firm at -1600 at DraftKings.
It wouldn’t be oddsmakers’ first time getting the top pick of a draft wrong — they whiffed on last year’s NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB drafts — but the odds are certainly against anyone betting on anyone but Young.
With that said, bettors might be looking for alternate action on draft night, so for this week’s column I compiled a few of my favorite bets worth a look.
As you’ll see, my approach to the draft is to be as aware of new developments as possible but not overly swayed by them. So the negative stuff coming out about C.J. Stroud hasn’t swayed me nearly as much as others, and the latest hype around Will Levis isn’t doing much for me either — just as I was never sold on Anthony Richardson going No. 1 overall when that talk was happening.
But there will be plenty more developments in the days ahead, and it’s all worth paying attention to before placing any bets. Now, let’s get into my favorites.
Bijan Robinson Top 10 Pick
A running back wasn’t selected until the second round of last year’s draft, but Bijan Robinson has been touted as a the position’s best prospect in years. If there’s a back worth using a high pick on, it’s him. Not many mocks have him sliding past the Eagles at No. 10, so this is worth a sprinkle.
Hendon Hooker 1st-Round Pick
There should be a healthy run of quarterbacks in the top half of the draft, including Young, Stroud, Richardson and Levis. After those four, Hooker is probably next up and there will be several teams in the second half of the draft in need of a quarterback they can sit and develop.
Anthony Richardson drafted before Will Levis
The latest movement in Levis’ odds to go No. 2 overall to the Houston Texas tells a different story, as he’s currently favored at -140. However, I’m not convinced by the latest and predictable hype — especially with Houston reportedly not sold on taking a quarterback. Once Young and Stroud are off the board, I don’t see how the next team taking a QB passes on Richardson and his incredible potential.
C.J. Stroud drafted No. 4
Stroud’s odds to go No. 4 to the Indianapolis Colts are only second to Levis at +110, but they’re still his best odds of any draft position. That’s for good reason. If oddsmakers are right about Levis going No. 2, then Stroud would be the best quarterback remaining for the Colts at No. 4. And if the Texans don’t take a QB, Stroud is still the best QB remaining. The only thing that could wreck this is if Houston takes Stroud themselves, or if both Levis and Richardson leap him.