Odds Favor Over Four Quarterbacks In The First Round Of The NFL Draft

• Sportsbooks have now listed -650 betting odds for over 4.5 quarterbacks to be drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft.
• The likely rookies under center include Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Zach Wilson, Mac Jones, and Trey Lance.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – With the NFL Draft just over a month away, NFL online sportsbooks have begun listing over/under odds for positional groups to be selected in the first round.

None are more popular than the quarterbacks, and the 2021 NFL Draft is shaping up to see an extremely large amount of rookie arms drafted in the first 32 picks.

Current odds posted via the online Super Bowl betting sites heavily favor over 4.5 quarterbacks to be taken in the first round of the upcoming draft.

How Many Quarterbacks Will Be Drafted In The First Round Of The 2021 NFL Draft

• Over 4.5 -650
• Under 4.5 +375

Laying -650 odds on at least five quarterbacks to go in the first round is some major confidence in NFL teams seeing arm talent in this year’s draft.

The contenders are well known, with Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields being proverbial locks to go in the first round for over a year.

BYU’s Zach Wilson and Alabama’s Mac Jones played their way into a first-round grade through the 2020 season, with many expected both of them to go in the top 15 picks as well.

North Dakota State’s Trey Lance is also receiving first-round grades, with Ryan Gosling (not that Ryan Gosling) of ProFootballNetwork  projecting him going as high as fifth overall to the San Francisco 49ers in a trade with the Cincinnati Bengals.

The 49ers just made a deal with the Miami Dolphins to get the number three overall pick, signaling that they're all in on somebody.

Breaking Down The Picks

The consensus projections agree that Lawrence is an automatic lock to go to the Jacksonville Jaguars and new coach Urban Meyer with the first overall pick.

Lawrence has been locked into that position for years now ever since he led the Clemson Tigers to a national championship as a true freshman.

The number two pick belongs to the New York Jets, who were initially expected to take Ohio State Buckeye Justin Fields. Now, some projections have the Jets taking Zach Wilson with that pick due to his extraordinary arm talent and mobility.

While the Miami Dolphins held the third pick in the draft, the 49ers just took it from them which means they could be making a move to land a quarterback before anyone else can.

The Dolphins already have their QB of the immediate future in Tua Tagovailoa, and also possess another first-round pick, which they will likely be using on a wide receiver or offensive lineman.

That leaves Lance and Jones, with Lance being projected in various positions as high as fifth and as low as 20th.

Jones put himself firmly in the first-round discussion through his play, leading the Crimson Tide to the 2020 national championship while showing strong confidence in the pocket.

Some projections have Mac Jones going to the New England Patriots with the 15th overall selection, effectively fitting into the Brady-sized hole left behind in Josh McDaniel’s offense. While Cam Newton was just resigned to a one-year deal, few expect him to be the permanent solution in Foxborough.

If five quarterbacks are taken in the first round as expected, that would be the most first-round QBs in the last ten years, tied with the 2018 draft. That Draft saw Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, and Lamar Jackson all selected on the first night.

Those looking to bet on the NFL Draft can almost assure themselves a winner if they are willing to pay the heavy price for this wager.