First up was Evan Neal. Then Ikem Ekwonu got a bit of a buzz.
But there is now a new betting favorite to be the Jacksonville Jaguars’ No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
According to BetMGM, Michigan Rand Aidan Hutchinson is now a -350 favorite to be drafted first. He is followed by a large gap – next in line are Neal (+600) and Ekwonu (+1000).
The over-under for Hutchinson’s draft position was set at 1.5. You get -350 chances to take the bottom, +250 for the top.
Interestingly, Ekwonu has the same chance as another passer Rusher, and it is not Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux. Georgia Rand Travon Walker also sits at +1000, with Thibodeaux earning the fifth highest chance at +2000.
Under quarterbacks, Liberty Malik Willis leads the way at +5000, followed by Pitt’s Kenny Pickett (+8000) and a trio at +15000 – North Carolina’s Sam Howell, Cincinnati’s Desmond Knight and Ole Miss’ Matt Corral.
The Jaguars were active in the free agency, but one of their first moves – putting the franchise tag on left tackle Cam Robinson – seems to indicate that they may not be working out a tackle first. The Jaguars also reported what they saw of the 2021 Draft Pick Walker Little.
When we asked Coach Doug Pederson at the NFL what it takes to be a tackle for the first overall pick, Pederson indicated that it takes a very special player to land in that spot.
Hutchinson makes some sense for the top pick. The Jaguars ranked 21st in sack percentage and tied for 23rd in rushing yards allowed per game. Josh Allen is a game changer ahead, but the future of 2020 First K’Lavon Chaisson is unclear with a new staff in town.
Most of the Jaguars’ spending was on the offensive side during their free agency flurry. They signed linebacker Foye Oluokun and defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi but have yet to add a randrusher of note.
In our Hutchinson scout report, we compared him to former NFL defensive lineman Chris Long, who played for Pederson with the Eagles for two years, helping them lead to a Super Bowl title. Pederson knows that he also needs to build up the wardrobe chemistry, and in addition to a very good perspective, his character has earned rave reviews from talent reviewers and decision makers.
The team that hates the most hates to hear Aidan Hutchinson’s chances
The owners of the No. 2 overall pick, the Detroit Lions, may have to go back to the drawing.
Hutchinson has turned himself into a Heisman Trophy Award finalist just down from the Lions facility, and they need more pressure players ahead, especially after the release of Trey Flowers. Plus, Hutchinson’s no-nonsense approach was believed to be attractive to Lions head coach Dan Campbell.
Hutchinson landing in Detroit felt like a natural fit. But if he’s number 1 on the board, who would Detroit turn to?
A year after the design of Penei Sewell as seventh overall, with Taylor Decker on board, to take great luxury. Both Neal and Ekwonu could be tried on guard, of course, but the development of guard with the number 2 pick raises some serious position value issues.
Are Walker or Thibodeaux at stake? Maybe. Both players’ draft position over-unders are set at 3.5, with Ekwonu a slight favorite between the two to go for that.
But we also believe that Notre Dame S Kyle Hamilton could be an option. (For what it’s worth, Hamilton’s draft position is set at 6.5, with the sub-favorite.)
As guards, the safeguards are rarely chosen in the upper parts of the design. The last security to be selected in the top five was Eric Berry of the Chiefs 2010. The last number 2 general security? You have to go back to the late Eric Turner in 1991.
When the Jaguars close in on Hutchinson, the Lions effectively move into the driver’s seat for the draft. Is there a clear option? At the moment it is difficult to say in which direction they will go.
Add Comment