Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Who Will Be the #1 Pick in the NFL Draft?

03/30/2022 at 12:12am EDT

We are getting closer to the actual 2022 NFL Draft, with the NFL Combine about to begin. This is one of the more entertaining and exciting aspects of football, as a good draft could immediately set your favorite team for success. Today, we will dive into some NFL Draft bets that could hit and discuss why they are good bets to place. All odds are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook, so depending on when you place the wager and what sportsbook you use, the odds could fluctuate slightly.

Betting on the NFL Draft is fun, but building up a bankroll could be a lot easier if you are betting on March Madness to increase funds without having to deposit extra cash.

Evan Neal (-150)

In this year's draft, the offensive lineman Evan Neal is the favorite to be selected first overall. It makes a lot of sense and should be the first pick after drafting quarterback Trevor Lawrence to begin the 2021 NFL Draft last year. Jacksonville needs to build an offensive line to protect Lawrence, and Evan Neal can do just that. He could move all over the offensive line as well as he played left guard in 2019, correct tackle in 2020, and left tackle in 2021 for the Crimson Tide.

He also was a captain for Alabama last year and is highly knowledgeable on the offensive line as he had to understand blocking schemes for the entire line as he constantly was moving around. Neal will be a great addition to their team if the Jaguars want to protect Lawrence's blindside. Place a wager on this one as it seems to be pointing in all the right directions for this to be the actual outcome.

Aidan Hutchinson (+200)

Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson has also been linked to potentially being the first name of the board. He provides a threat on the defensive line as he was third in the nation last season, recording 14 sacks. Hutchinson also finished with three pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery, so he continued to wreak havoc throughout the season.

Jacksonville ran a 3-4 defense last season, meaning they only had three players on the defensive line and four linebackers, so that shows they need to get pressure. Hutchinson is capable of doing just that. It’s not like his numbers are coming against inferior programs as he recorded three sacks against Penn State and another three sacks against Ohio State. Take a flier on Hutchinson as if they somehow sour on Neal; he should be that next player they take.

Ikem Ekwonu (+700)

Coming out of NC State, Ekwonu is projected to be the second-best offensive lineman in this season’s NFL draft. He started three seasons as a left tackle, but it looks like he would naturally fit as an NFL left guard due to his size and natural ability. I do not like taking a player so high out of a non-powerhouse program like Alabama, Georgia, or Notre Dame due to potentially playing inferior talents, but Ekwonu could be a good fit.

Cam Robinson played left tackle while Andrew Norwell was at left guard for the Jags last year, but I do not see Jacksonville making the plunge on an interior offensive lineman with their first pick. Neal seems to be able to do exactly what Ikem Ekwonu can and, more so, do not make this wager.

Kayvon Thibodeaux (+1000)

Defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux had a good season for the Oregon Ducks last year as he finished with seven sacks and a pair of forced fumbles. However, he does not jump off the page for me to expect him to be the top pick in the NFL Draft. He is not the best defensive end on the board, as Hutchinson showed the ability to dominate the position for a better program last year.

Thibodauex should be an excellent NFL player with his size and speed, but he feels like a top-five pick and not that guy that you have to take when you have your selection with every single player at your disposal.

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

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