Who will be the first? It’s quite an accomplishment to be the first player selected at your respective position. You become the measuring stick for all other players at that position in the draft. It comes with high expectations, as the first player picked at any position is expected to become one of the best or at least an All-Pro caliber player. This season’s draft comes with certain expectations on who will be first. At some positions, there doesn’t even seem to be much to ponder. But maybe there will be some surprises along the way. Here are favorites for this draft:
(Odds Courtesy Of Bovada)
FIRST RUNNING BACK DRAFTED
- D Andre Swift -185
- Jonathan Taylor +150
- Jk Dobbins +750
- Field +1000
Pick and Analysis: Swift. Even if this has been going on for a few years, it’s still jarring how far stock has fallen with running backs. Still, a lot of teams will be looking for help in this area. I think this comes down to Taylor and Swift. I see a team taking a stab on Swift, perhaps the Chiefs with the last pick of the first round. In any event, I see the Georgia standout being the first back chosen in the draft.
FIRST WIDE RECEIVER DRAFTED
- Ceedee Lamb -115
- Jerry Jeudy -115
- Henry Ruggs +500
- Field +1500
Pick and Analysis: This is pretty tough. A few different teams could be the first to pick a receiver, and their needs are all different. The Raiders could go with Lamb, who might be an overall better pick. But if the Jets pick a receiver one spot ahead of the Raiders, Ruggs III or Jeudy almost seem like better fits. The guess here is the Raiders will pick Lamb at 12 as the first receiver to go in this year’s draft. But make no mistake, even experts are at odds over this one.
FIRST OFFENSIVE LINEMAN DRAFTED
- Tristan Wirfs -130
- Mekhi Becton +150
- Jedrick Wills +400
- Andrew Thomas +1200
- Field +1800
Pick and Analysis: Jedrick Wills at +400. We’re going to go with a nice price here on the Crimson Tide product. Unlike other categories, there is some parity in this category. We don’t know who will be the first team to go offensive line, making it that much harder to make a pick. But it might be the Giants and though Becton and Wirfs are compelling picks, the new coach Joe Judge, a former Alabama assistant, might snatch up the talented tackle in this spot with a co-sign from GM Gettleman.
(Odds Courtesy Of Bovada)
J.K. Dobbins
- J.K. Dobbins first running back drafted +1100
- Any other running back drafted first -2000
Pick and Analysis: Any other running back drafted. This doesn’t offer much payback at -2000. In addition, with there being a chance we don’t see a back chosen in the first round again this season, it increases the chance of a team stepping out and taking Dobbins. The thought here is that Jonathan Taylor and D’Andre Swift are recognized as more attractive prospects by teams looking for backs and the idea that Dobbins would go ahead of both of them seems a bit far-fetched.
D’Andre Swift
- D.Swift first running back drafted -180
- Any other running back drafted first +150
Pick and Analysis: Yes at -180. He seems to fit pretty well skill-wise into the teams that could be looking running back at the end of the first round or early in the second. A team late in the first could reach for Taylor, but teams that could go this direction like maybe Kansas City or Tampa would seem more likely to go with Swift.
Henry Ruggs III
- H.Ruggs first wide receiver drafted +400
- Any other wide receiver drafted first -550
Pick and Analysis: At +400, this might be worth a look. From a yea-or-nay perspective, the answer is probably no. In fact, if you ask most people, Jerry Jeudy and Cee Dee Lamb are the more-complete receiver prospects in this draft. But at +400, it has become just juicy enough to take a stab. With his 4.27 time in the forty, teams could step out a little. The Jets might like him at 11 more than the aforementioned duo of receivers. Worth a little taste.
Visit and bookmark our NFL Picks Page for free against the spread predictions all season long!
