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NFL Draft bets: AFC North teams' first pick odds
The NFL draft is here, and we're flying through each division and the odds for each team's first position drafted. Today we turn to the AFC North. The Browns do not have a draft pick until the third round because of the Deshaun Watson trade, so they are not offered in this market. Pittsburgh gets us started at pick No. 17, but perhaps some last-minute chaos could ensue if something happens between Baltimore and Lamar Jackson.
All we can do is operate with the information we have. Odds are courtesy of DraftKings.
Pittsburgh Steelers, pick No. 17
- Offensive lineman (+115)
- Cornerback (+115)
- Defensive lineman (+425)
- Safety (+3000)
Pittsburgh has focused on the offensive side of the football with their past few first-round picks, and now we like them to look to defense. Don't get us wrong, further investment along the offensive line is a must for this team. On paper, a few more linemen could make this a strong offense, with the burden then falling on QB Kenny Pickett to deliver.
Still, defense was an issue last year. They were susceptible to big plays through the air as their pass defense efficiency came in as one of the league's worst.
There may not be an immediate fit, but cornerback makes a lot of sense here. Yes, the Steelers brought in Patrick Peterson, but at 32 how many quality years does he have left?
CB Joey Porter Jr. has been a popular mock draft pick here with his father having played for Pittsburgh. Whether it's Porter or another corner like Deonte Banks or Emmanuel Forbes, a pick in this direction fits the Steelers identity and long-term needs.
The pick: Cornerback (+115)
Baltimore Ravens, pick No. 22
- Cornerback (-120)
- Wide receiver (+200)
- Defensive lineman (+400)
- Quarterback (+800)
We're going to work under the assumption that Lamar Jackson is staying put. We would have gone with wide receiver here a few weeks ago, but the signing and money for Odell Beckham Jr. has us looking in a different direction.
To us, it has to be either corner or defensive line. Baltimore seems to have injury concerns in their secondary every year, and it has cost them games. The question is, will one of these top corners still be on the board at No. 22? We're not so sure.
Instead, we turn to the defensive line. Baltimore had the eighth-lowest pressure rate in the league last season, and that just won't fly in this league. The Ravens have talent on their defensive line, but also quite a bit of question marks.
At this spot, linemen like Lukas Van Ness, Byran Bresee and Myles Murphy may be on the board, so we're jumping at the DL at these odds.
The pick: Defensive lineman (+400)
Cincinnati Bengals, pick No. 28
- Tight end (+150)
- Cornerback (+250)
- Offensive lineman (+350)
- Defensive lineman (+750)
We completely understand why tight end is at the top of the board here for the Bengals. The team has Irv Smith and Tanner Hudson at the top of their depth chart heading into this year, and an elite playmaker at the position is exciting to imagine with Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd.
Corner is most definitely a big need as well, there is a need for a starter on the outside for the Bengals. To us, it seems more likely that Cincinnati solves its 2023 CB issues via a trade or free agency, grabbing some depth pieces on Day 2.
We love the idea of a tight end to Cincinnati. It's hard to imagine Michael Mayer or Dalton Kincaid last this long, but perhaps one starts to slide and the Bengals make a modest move up to secure their services. Darnell Washington would likely be next in line at this point, a fine consolation.
The pick: Tight end (+150)
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