- Georgia Bulldogs DE Travon Walker is going to be the first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
- Walker has -450 odds to go number one, up from -300 only a day ago.
- Aidan Hutchinson is likely to go second, with -160 odds to do so.
LAS VEGAS – Georgia Bulldogs DE Travon Walker is almost certainly going to be the first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
That sentence wouldn’t have been written even two days ago, but in recent days, the odds have shifted dramatically in favor of Walker.
The favorite for months now has been Michigan Wolverines DE Aidan Hutchinson, but Walker’s outstanding athletic talent was on display at the NFL Draft Combine, and his rise up the charts has been remarkable ever since.
At 272 pounds, Walker ran a 4.51 40-yard dash, a 6.89 in the three-cone drill, and put up a 36-inch vertical leap.
Travon Walker’s testing numbers were so absurd that he could pass for a moderately athletic CB
He’s 272 pounds pic.twitter.com/159hc12Vnm
— Mike Renner (@PFF_Mike) April 11, 2022
As Mike Renner of Pro Football Focus pointed out, several of his numbers were in the mid-range for a cornerback, and he plays Defensive End at 272 pounds!
At this point, Walker going first overall seems to be the conclusion that the online sportsbooks have reached – he’s even moving further into lock status.
Walker had -300 odds to be the first pick at many sportsbooks just yesterday, but now, the odds see him at -450.
2022 NFL Draft – Number 1 Overall Pick Odds
- Travon Walker -450
- Aidan Hutchinson +350
- Ikem Ekwonu +800
With Walker seemingly a foregone conclusion as the number one pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the question for online gambling fans now is what happens at spots two and three.
2022 NFL Draft – Number 2 Overall Pick Odds
- Aidan Hutchinson -160
- Kayvon Thibodeaux +140
- Jermaine Johnson +750
Aidan Hutchinson is still projected to go second overall to the Detroit Lions, with fellow pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux as his major competition, and yet another pass rusher behind them, FSU’s Jermaine Johnson.
These odds are heavily influenced by the belief that the Lions are looking for defensive talent, and will select the best player available at their position.
Both Hutchinson and Thibodeaux are regarded as can’t-miss prospects, and even though Hutchinson is sliding, it’s more because of Walker’s excellence than anything he did wrong.
2022 NFL Draft – Number 3 Overall Pick Odds
- Derek Stingley +150
- Aidan Hutchinson +300
- Ikem Ekwonu +300
The Houston Texans have needs everywhere, and it’s unclear what direction they will go in order to fill the holes on their roster.
The online sportsbooks seem to have no clear idea either. Derek Stingley, a CB, is the top option, followed by Hutchinson, a DE, and Ikem Ekwonu, arguably the most talented offensive lineman in the draft.
The Texans also have the thirteenth pick in the draft, which means they could aim for picking up Jermaine Johnson with 13, and focus on a different position with their third pick.
Per Adam Schefter, they are also exploring options to trade that thirteenth pick-up for a second top ten pick, with clear targets in mind.
However, if Hutchinson slips to three, it’s hard to imagine him getting past the Texans, even with players like Johnson and Thibodeaux still on the board.