2024 NFL Draft best bets: Who will be the first overall pick?

Seth Orlemann
Staff Writer

The NFL is back this week with the 1st round of the NFL Draft set to take place in Detroit Thursday at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NFL Draft odds for NFL prospects and tab the best bets for who will be the No. 1 overall pick -- just one of many SportsbookWire's expert NFL picks and predictions.

The NFL has been busy this offseason with a multitude of acquisitions happening as a result of the free-agency deadline in mid-March. While many teams across the league were shaken up, it allowed fans and experts to further speculate the incoming stock of the draft class.

After trading away the 1st overall pick last year to the Carolina Panthers, the Chicago Bears are in control of the draft board to start the night on Thursday, and it is all but certain of who they will select.

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2024 NFL Draft first overall pick odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 3:32 p.m. ET.

  • QB Caleb Williams: -10000 (bet $10,000 to win $100)
  • QB Jayden Daniels: +5000 (bet $100 to win $5,000)
  • QB Drake Maye: +8000 (bet $100 to win $8,000)
  • QB J.J. McCarthy: +10000 (bet $100 to win $10,000)
  • WR Marvin Harrison Jr.: +15000 (bet $100 to win $15,000)
  • QB Michael Penix Jr.: +15000 (bet $100 to win $15,000)
  • QB Bo Nix: +15000 (bet $100 to win $15,000)
  • WR Malik Nabers: +25000 (bet $100 to win $25,000)

The pick – CALEB WILLIAMS (-10000)

Quarterbacks have been taken with the 1st overall pick in 4 of the last 5 years of the NFL Draft including QB Bryce Young, who the Panthers selected last April.

The far and away favorite to be the 1st pick of the 2024 NFL Draft is Williams out of USC. He won the Heisman Trophy in 2022 and is the only QB since 2000 to throw for 30-plus touchdowns and run for 10+ TDs, while throwing 5 or fewer interceptions in multiple seasons. He is highly touted to replace QB Justin Fields, who led Chicago to a 7-10 finish last season.

Chicago's biggest offseason move was the addition of WR Keenan Allen who will join WR D.J. Moore and provide experience and talent for Williams to throw to.

With Williams -10000 odds to be the 1st pick, it is almost inconceivable to think of another player being picked by Chicago.

However, AVOID making a wager here. The juice is just not worth it.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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