2022 NFL Draft: 12 Teams With Odds For Their Top Position Pick

The 2022 NFL Draft starts Thursday and there is some legitimate suspense heading into the first round because there is uncertainty over the top picks.

Not only is there uncertainty over the specific player going in each spot, but BetMGM has odds on which position each team will select with their first pick.

Here is a look at a dozen of those odds and why teams might be targeting those specific positions:

Carolina Panthers (OL, -110)

While the offensive line might be the favorite for the Panthers, it is only slightly ahead of quarterback, which is priced at +100. Malik Willis or Kenny Pickett should be there at No. 6 for the Panthers but if Ike Ekonwu or Evan Neal are there, too, that could force a tough decision.

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Atlanta Falcons (WR, -125)

Having replaced quarterback Matt Ryan with Marcus Mariota, the Falcons could very well look for a quarterback, but their receiving corps has been decimated. Calvin Ridley was suspended for his parlay proclivities and Russell Gage signed in Tampa Bay as a free agent. That means Atlanta’s top returning wide receiver is Olamide Zaccheus, who had 31 catches for 406 yards and three touchdowns on 53 targets. With the Falcons picking eighth, they could have a shot at the top wide receiver, who is favored to be Garrett Wilson, or going for one of the top two quarterbacks, Willis or Pickett.

Kansas City Chiefs (WR, -110)

There has been massive turnover in the wide receiver ranks for the team that has one of the premier quarterbacks in the game. The Chiefs traded Tyreek Hill to Miami. DeMarcus Robinson and Byron Pringle departed as free agents, but Kansas City also brought in JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, so it is not like the receiving cupboard is bare. More challenging is that the Chiefs have picks 29 and 30 so, on a whim, the position of their first pick could easily change. Defensive line (+325), Defensive Back (+350) and Offensive Lineman (+400) are next on the board for the Chiefs.

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San Francisco 49ers (WR, +150)

Star wide receiver Deebo Samuel insists that he wants to be traded and if the 49ers are going to fill that void, using an early pick would help, but that might also be heavily dependent on which team makes the deal for Samuel and whether it would make the most sense for San Francisco to take a wide receiver in that spot. The 49ers don’t have a first-round pick of their own so if they do not move Samuel, it gets even more difficult to project who might be available in their draft slot.

Detroit Lions (DL, -500)

Defensive ends Aidan Hutchinson and Travon Walker are the leading candidates to go in the top two spots and the Lions, picking second, could use help on the defensive line, but the Lions do have other needs. Kayvon Thibodeaux is another option along the defensive line, so three defensive ends that could conceivably go this high in the draft explains why defensive end is favored for the Lions, a team that was led by Charles Harris’ 7.5 sacks in 2021.

RELATED: 2022 NFL Mock Draft

Jacksonville Jaguars (DL, -1667)

At this point, Georgia defensive end Travon Walker has emerged as the betting favorite for the first overall pick, taking over from Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.  The most likely outcome is that the Jaguars will decide which one of those two players that they want, and that price is prohibitively steep.

Pittsburgh Steelers (QB, -139)

It would make sense for the Steelers to address a hole at the most important position in the game. Ben Roethlisberger has retired and the Steelers’ big addition at the position thus far has been Mitch Trubisky. By pick No. 20, though, the best quarterback options could be gone, and it might require the Steelers to move up if they are going to have a legit shot at one of the best quarterbacks.

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Green Bay Packers (WR, -145)

The Packers traded wide receiver Davante Adams to Las Vegas, but kept MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers, so the Packers do need to address that need created by dealing away their top wide receiver. At the same time, the Packers pick 22nd and 28th and if the top five wideouts are off the board by the time the 22nd pick arrives, then maybe Green Bay goes for the best player available at 22 and looks for better value at the wide receiver position with the 28th selection.

Cincinnati Bengals (OL, +100)

Joe Burrow was scrambling for his life at times in the playoffs and it would make sense to improve the protection for their franchise quarterback. At pick 31, there should be some viable offensive line options but a pick that late in the first round might just offer better value at another position, depending on which players have fallen at that point in the first round.

Dallas Cowboys (OL, -125)

After losing offensive linemen La’El Collins to Cincinnati and Connor Williams to Miami in free agency, it would make sense for the Cowboys to seek a quality lineman and picking 24th is prime territory to address that position.

Houston Texans (OL, +110)

While the offensive line makes a lot of sense for the Texans, picking third, they have needs everywhere, so DB (+125) and DL (+150) are right in the mix, too. If Jacksonville and Detroit stick to the script and take two defensive ends with the first two picks, that would give the Texans a shot at the best of offensive tackles – Evan Neal or Ikem Ekonwu – but Houston’s many holes leave them available to go in several different directions.

Minnesota Vikings (DB, -110)

The Vikings had seven players with at least five passes defended in 2021 and only three of those players are returning. Minnesota brought in Chandon Sullivan from Green Bay to be a nickel back, but it would still make sense to bolster the secondary. What can the Vikings do if the top three defensive backs (Ahmad Gardner, Derek Stingley Jr., and Kyle Hamilton) are gone before Minnesota picks at 12? Defensive line (+300) and offensive line (+400) are next on the board for the Vikings.Make sure to keep an eye on our Live Odds page throughout the week to get the best lines possible and connect with others in the SBR community on our popular sports betting forum.