With only three days remaining until the draft, Tyree Wilson is the new favorite to be the first defensive player selected.
The Texas Tech edge rusher surpassed Will Anderson over the weekend, and currently sits with -140 odds to be the first defensive player chosen in the draft, according to DraftKings.
Anderson held the title for several weeks following Jalen Carter’s off-field troubles that surfaced in early March, and ballooned to a massive favorite at one point, but now has +120 odds to go first among defensive players.
Carter, cornerback Christian Gonzalez and cornerback Devon Witherspoon round out the top-5, but the oddsmakers feel like this is a two-man race.
Odds to be the first defensive player drafted, as of April 24:
- Tyree Wilson -140
- Will Anderson +120
- Jalen Carter +1000
- Christian Gonzalez +3000
- Devon Witherspoon +3000
Bryce Young is the heavy favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick of the Panthers, and quarterback Will Levis is now the odds-on favorite to be selected at No. 2, either by the Texans or someone who trades with them.
The Cardinals have the third pick and could be the first team to choose a defensive player if they remain there instead of trading down. The consensus pick has long been Anderson, but he and Wilson have identical odds at DraftKings at +250, while FanDuel has Wilson with the better odds.
Wilson and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud are both listed at +270 on FanDuel, with Anderson lagging behind. No prospect is close to an odds-on favorite, which means the betting markets don’t have a good handle on Arizona’s pick at 3.
Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson and Levis round out the top-5.
Odds to be the No. 3 overall pick, per FanDuel, as of April 24:
- Tyree Wilson +270
- C.J. Stroud +270
- Will Anderson +350
- Anthony Richardson +500
- Will Levis +1000
Speculation has swirled for months, but the top of the draft generally had Young, Stroud and Anderson above the rest of the pack. However, Levis has made a significant jump over the last couple of days, as has Wilson.
Some scouts see Anderson as the more finished product, but believe Wilson has a higher ceiling. The unpredictability could remain all the way up to the night of the draft, as there is little consensus about what will happen after Young goes No. 1 overall to Carolina.
Anderson was once seen as the heavy favorite to be the first defensive player drafted, but Wilson has taken over that crown. For now, at least.
