For the last couple of months, it has looked like the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft would be Aiden Hutchinson. But that is no longer the case. A new favorite to go first overall has emerged with the draft just a few days away. Former Georgia defensive end Travon Walker is now the favorite to be selected with the top pick, according to odds throughout the betting market.
As of early Monday morning, Walker had taken over the top spot on the oddsboards at several major sportsbooks:
Massive odds shift in the No. 1 overall pick last night…
Travon Walker is now the favorite at most books.
DraftKings: -150
FanDuel: -150
Barstool: -159
PointsBet: -125
MGM: -160— Connor Allen (@ConnorAllenNFL) April 25, 2022
The odds continued to move in Walker’s direction. By Monday afternoon, the odds to go No. 1 for Walker and Hutchinson were as follows:
| Sportsbooks | Travon Walker | Aiden Hutchinson |
|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | -160 | +140 |
| PointsBet | -155 | +150 |
| BetMGM | -175 | +135 |
| BetRivers | -167 | +160 |
| FanDuel | -175 | +150 |
| Caesars | -220 | +170 |
But is Walker who the Jaguars are going to take? Maybe…
NFL Draft Odds: Jaguars Intentions At No. 1 A Mystery
Before the Jags put the franchise tag on Cam Robinson, an offensive tackle was favored to go No. 1 in the NFL Draft (Evan Neal or Ikem Ekwonu). Then the Jags tagged Robinson, and a new favorite emerged: former Michigan edge rusher Aiden Hutchinson. But a new defender has moved into the top slot just days before the draft.
That does not necessarily mean the Jags are thinking defense with the No. 1 pick.
It's draft week, which means it's lying week, but there is a lot of chatter this morning about the Jaguars and Ikem Ekwonu.
Could be that they like him a lot and might not draft him…but the buzz is definitely out there that he is in play at No. 1 overall.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) April 25, 2022
One could argue that they do not need an offensive tackle enough to make one the No. 1 pick. However, getting better protection for Trevor Lawrence, their franchise quarterback, is not a bad idea. Odds on Ekwonu going No. 1 range from +600 at PointsBet to +1000 at BetMGM.
Evan Neal, who was once favored to go No. 1, can now be had for +1800 at PointsBet; several sportsbooks have him at +1600.
With the rumors surrounding the Jaguars, it is hard to say which way they are leaning. Last week, Jags GM Trent Baalke said the team is down to four options, presumably Walker, Hutchinson, Neal, and Ekwonu.
Sharp money has come in on Walker at BetMGM, and the bookmakers at PointsBet believe Baalke has Walker circled, ESPN.com reported.
“Ultimately, at the end of the day, Baalke gets the final call, which is why Walker is currently the overall favorite go No. 1,” a PointsBet spokesperson told the website.
According to the rumor mill, Jags owner Shad Khan favors Hutchinson. While Khan has taken a hands-off approach regarding personnel decisions for most of his time as owner, he has become more involved in the last couple of years. So, there is a chance he pulls the ‘owner’ card and tells Baalke to go with Hutchinson.
Betting Analysis
Unlike last year, it is not easy to predict who the Jags could take with the No. 1 pick of the draft. The only thing that can be said with any certainty is that they will not take a quarterback. If Peter King has it right, we could be in for a surprise at No. 1:
“Expect a surprise, I heard out of Jacksonville recently. Hmmm. That would eliminate Aidan Hutchinson here. The trendy pick after that has been Walker, so that really wouldn’t be much of a surprise. Ikem Ekwonu, perhaps?”
Ekwonu has been discussed as a potential selection at No. 1, so he would not be too much of a surprise. A bigger surprise would be Kayvon Thibodeaux at +3000, Derek Stingley at +12,000, Kyle Hamilton at +12,500, or Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner at +15,500 (BetRivers).
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