2022 NFL Draft Team Prop Bets and Specials Picks: First Position and Player Among Round 1 Selections

Mike Spector

Last Updated: April 27, 2022 8:20 AM EDT • 5 min 8 sec read. Twitter link Google News Link

EUGENE, OR - NOVEMBER 27: Kayvon Thibodeaux #5 of the Oregon Ducks rushes against Brandon Kipper #68 of the Oregon State Beavers at Autzen Stadium on November 27, 2021 in Eugene, Oregon. Tom Hauck/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Tom Hauck / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

The first round of the 2022 NFL Draft takes place on Thursday night in Las Vegas, and we take a deep dive into the array of NFL Draft odds and team specials available to wager on with our top picks.

Every NFL draft has a different theme, and to support that notion, one needs to look no further than comparing last year’s draft to how this year’s first round projects to play out. Quarterbacks were taken with each of the first three picks last year, and no team selected a pass rusher until the 16th pick. This year, barring trades, there does not project to be a quarterback taken until at least the sixth pick, while the top four are all likely to be defensive linemen or edge rushers.

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Here are our best picks for the 2022 NFL Draft team specials markets (odds via FanDuel Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

NFL Draft Team Specials Prop Picks

Position of Buffalo Bills' first drafted player: Cornerback +200 ????? Position of Atlanta Falcons' first drafted player: Wide receiver +100 ????Position of Carolina Panthers' first drafted player: Offensive lineman -105 ????Position of Washington Commanders' first drafted player: Wide receiver +145 ????Position of Baltimore Ravens' first drafted player: Defensive lineman +190 ???Position of Los Angeles Chargers' first drafted player: Offensive lineman +125 ???Position of Pittsburgh Steelers' first drafted player: Quarterback +100 ?????Position of New England Patriots' first drafted player: Linebacker +430Who will the New York Giants' select with picks Nos. 5 and 7: Ahmad Gardner with pick No. 5, Charles Cross with pick No. 7 +950 ??Who will the New York Jets' select with picks Nos. 4 and 10: Kayvon Thibodeaux with pick No. 4, Drake London with pick No. 10 +1000 ??https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1518362901702070273

NFL Draft Team Specials Prop Bets

Position of Bills' first drafted player: Cornerback (+200)

The Buffalo Bills' Super Bowl hopes took a big hit when they lost All-Pro cornerback Tre’Davious White to a torn ACL last year. The Bills would have beaten the Kansas City Chiefs last year and reached the AFC Championship Game if not for shoddy coaching up three points with 13 seconds left. However, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes still threw for 378 yards, and receiver Tyreek Hill still torched them for 11 receptions and 150 yards. Thus, Buffalo’s front office likely walked away from that game thinking one can never have too many cornerbacks, especially when the rest of the roster seems set.

Position of Falcons' first drafted player: Wide receiver (+100)

With the No. 8 pick, the Atlanta Falcons are likely in a position to take the draft’s first wide receiver. Atlanta has needs at most every position, as it has one of the most talent-barren rosters entering the draft. However, top receiver Calvin Ridley has been suspended for all of the 2022 season for betting on NFL games, so wide receiver looks like one of the Falcons’ most pressing needs early in the draft.

Position of Panthers' first drafted player: Offensive lineman (-105)

Many mock drafts have the Carolina Panthers taking a quarterback (either Kenny Pickett or Malik Willis) with the No. 6 pick. However, offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo may have unintentionally revealed the team’s draft plans when he emphatically stated Sam Darnold is their starting quarterback. He then humorously acknowledged he should not have revealed that to the media just seconds later. The odds for Carolina to draft an offensive lineman and quarterback are the same at FanDuel (-105), but we will trust McAdoo’s assertion that Darnold is their quarterback and that the team will build around him on the offensive line with the No. 6 pick.

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Position of Commanders' first drafted player: Wide receiver (+145)

At No. 11, one or two wide receivers are likely to be off the board. But many scouts put Garrett Wilson, Drake London, Jameson Williams, and Chris Olave in a separate tier compared to the rest of the draft class. The Washington Commanders would still walk away with a supreme talent if they took a wideout with this pick. The Commanders added quarterback Carson Wentz in the offseason, and they will likely be tempted to surround him with a playmaker opposite Terry McLaurin to aid his transition to a new scheme.

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Position of Ravens' first drafted player: Defensive lineman (+190)

The Baltimore Ravens pride themselves on stopping the run, and their 84.5 rushing yards per game allowed led the league last season. However, Baltimore plays in a division where each of its opponents likes to run the football. Thus, the Ravens likely know depth on the defensive side of the ball, especially in their front four, is vital to maintain the level of success they have been accustomed to with head coach John Harbaugh at the helm. If defensive tackle Jordan Davis of Georgia is still available when they pick, they will likely run their selection to commissioner Roger Goodell.

Position of Chargers' first drafted player: Offensive lineman (+125)

Offensive line is the Los Angeles Chargers’ biggest need in this draft, which is evident by FanDuel’s odds. The Chargers to draft an offensive lineman has +125 odds, and all other positions have odds of +300 or greater. Los Angeles cut tackle Bryan Bulaga and lost guard Michael Schofield. Protecting an elite talent like quarterback Justin Herbert will always be a top priority, making these +125 odds an excellent value proposition.

Position of Steelers' first drafted player: Quarterback (+100)

DraftKings Sportsbook has the Over/Under for quarterbacks taken in the first round at 2.5, with the Over heavily juiced to -250 compared to +190 odds for the Under. While not many teams are in the market for a quarterback that early, the Pittsburgh Steelers desperately need one. The Ben Roethlisberger era is over, and the team has seen enough of Mason Rudolph to know he is not their long-term solution. There is no chance the team would sign Baker Mayfield after seeing him up close and personal the last several years, so drafting a player like Pickett or Willis makes the most sense, and the Steelers may even trade up to do so.

Position of Patriots' first drafted player: Linebacker (+430)

Bill Belichick has always been a defensive guy, so it makes sense that defensive positions like cornerback, defensive lineman, linebacker, and safety make up the top four of six positions that the Patriots will draft with their first pick. New England ranked 22nd in stopping the run last year, unheard of for a Belichick-coached team. Thus, look for them to find a linebacker who plays sideline-to-sideline to help in that area.

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NFL Draft Team Specials: Who Will Giants and Jets Pick in Round 1?

Who will the Giants select with picks Nod. 5 and 7: Gardner with pick No. 5, Cross with pick No. 7

This bet offers a huge +950 payouts compared to the rest of our wagers because there are so many more factors at play, like the possibility that both players are off the board before the New York Giants make their first choice at No. 5. Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner makes the most sense with the fifth pick. And with the Giants likely needing to walk away with an offensive lineman with their second pick, we figure their chances to take Charles Cross are the highest as it is highly likely that Evan Neal and/or Ikem Ekwonu are off the board at No. 7.

Who will the New York Jets select with picks Nos. 4 and 10: Thibodeaux with pick No. 4, London with pick No. 10

Pairing the New York Jets to take edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux with receiver Jameson Williams or Garrett Wilson pays +600 and +700, respectively. However, we believe Wilson will already be off the board by the time of the Jets' second pick at No. 10, and that the Jets will be fearful of Williams' torn ACL to select him as high as No. 10.

Where to Bet on the NFL Draft

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Written By:
Mike Spector

I have been in the sports writing industry for over three years, working for sites like BettingPros/FantasyPros, Oddschecker, and Sportsbook Review. In my first year writing for BettingPros, I finished with the #2 overall record in their annual NFL betting competition, which made picks against the spread, and from an over/under and moneyline perspective. I am an avid fan of the NFL, MLB, and all college sports. In my opinion, March Madness is the best sporting event there is, and I am especially euphoric starting with conference tournament time in college basketball. I am a big advocate of "fading the public" and making plays that are contrarian, constantly citing that "there are reasons why they have those big shiny buildings in Las Vegas." Follow me on Twitter for my best bets and commentary to go along with the wagers.