-
Follow Us
On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
NFL Draft bets: AFC West teams' first pick odds
We close out our NFL Draft division previews with the AFC West. The Broncos do not have a pick until the third round because of the Russell Wilson trade, so they are not offered in this market.
We turn to the other three teams, and the odds for which position they draft first. Odds are courtesy of DraftKings.
Las Vegas Raiders, pick No. 7
- Cornerback (+115)
- Offensive lineman (+220)
- Quarterback (+275)
- Defensive lineman (+500)
The Raiders head into 2023 with far more questions than answers. Gone are Derek Carr and Darren Waller. In is Jimmy Garoppolo and Austin Hooper. It's not a very encouraging transition, and this team seems quite a few years away from competing.
We're surprised there isn't more buzz on the Raiders going for a quarterback here inside the top 10. We could see a Las Vegas trade up in this draft for one of these young signal-callers, but we'll pass on betting on that outcome in this exercise.
Instead we turn to the defensive line, as we get the feeling this organization opts for best player available, acknowledging the gap between their team and the rest in this conference.
At No. 7, there should be a few quality choices at DL. Jalen Carter continues to slip in projected mock drafts. Tyree Wilson and Nolan Smith could be on the board as well. Pairing a young defensive lineman with Maxx Crosby could be a good way for the Raiders to begin building up a foundation for a competitive team in two years.
The pick: Defensive lineman (+500)
Los Angeles Chargers, pick No. 21
- Wide receiver (+125)
- Tight end (+300)
- Defensive lineman (+300)
- Running back (+700)
Similarly to the team we'll highlight next, it seems very likely that Los Angeles looks to continue surrounding its franchise passer with talent on offense, especially with a large contract extension looming.
Justin Herbert has a solid cast at WR, though Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are getting up there in age and both sport an injury history that is becoming a concern. The tight end group is fine but could also benefit from someone like Michael Mayer or Dalton Kincaid to the fold.
It seems like a toss-up to us, and we know how often we've mocked tight ends to teams in the first round this year, but sometimes the odds are just too good to ignore. We'll add one more under our belts here and opt to roll with the Chargers grabbing a TE to round out their offense.
The pick: Tight end (+300)
Kansas City Chiefs, pick No. 31
- Wide receiver (+150)
- Offensive lineman (+200)
- Defensive lineman (+200)
- Tight end (+1200)
When you sign your franchise quarterback to a 10-year, $450 million contract, nailing the draft becomes even more important. The defending Super Bowl champs did lose a few contributors from their most recent championship run, and if they elect to keep this pick, we see only one logical move: wide receiver.
JuJu Smith-Schuster is gone. Mecole Hardman is gone. Currently the depth chart is topped by Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore. We're sorry, but that's not going to do it for Mahomes and this offense.
This seems like a terrific spot to stay put and take a pass-catcher. The few in this range that make sense are TCU's Quentin Johnston, a size-speed specimen that could become a serious weapon in this league. Jalin Hyatt of Tennessee is more of a down-field threat, but there will always be a need for that type of skillset in this offense.
It's the favorite on the board, but we're rolling with it anyway.
The pick: Wide receiver (+150)
More must-reads:
Breaking News
Sign up for the Bark Bets Newsletter
Bark Bets is Yardbarker's free daily guide to the world of sports betting. You'll get:
- Picks and predictions from our in-house experts
- The last-minute updates that give you an edge
- Special offers from Sportsbooks
Subscribe now!
