For the longest time, it was assumed that Aiden Hutchinson would be the first overall pick in the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft. However, with less than a week to go until the big event kicks off in Las Vegas, it appears as though the sportsbooks believe there’s a new favorite for the top pick.
Recent reports have revealed that there’s some growing tension within the Jacksonville Jaguars’ front office, as owner Shad Khan prefers the Michigan defensive end, while general manager Trent Baalke would rather use the team’s number one pick on Georgia phenom Travon Walker.
And now, it looks like all these rumors and reports have reached the Vegas sportsbooks, as there’s recently been a shift in their odds, with Walker taking over as the new favorite to get taken first overall.
According to ESPN, Hutchinson had been the outright favorite to be the first name off the board at the beginning of March. However, on Sunday he was dethroned by Walker, who went from +150 to -200. Meanwhile Hutchinson dropped from -170 to +160 at Caesars Sportsbook.
It’s amazing to think that there was a time when Walker was actually listed at 30-1 odds by BetMGM’s sportsbooks. They’ve reported that 35% of the money wagered on the first overall pick has been placed on the Georgia defensive end, including some sharp money Sunday evening that resulted in the line moving significantly.
After Walker and Hutchinson, North Carolina State offensive lineman Ikem Ekwonu has the third-best odds at 8-1, followed by Alabama offensive lineman Evan Neal at 16-1. The draft kicks off on Thursday, with the Jags holding the number one pick for the second year in a row.
