NFL Draft 2022: Another Player Favored To Be Picked First Overall By Jaguars

Draft Week kicks off with a new player given the best chance to be selected first overall. Georgia defensive end Travon Walker has become the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

A little more than 72 hours away from the start of the first round, Walker has -175 odds to be selected atop the draft at BetMGM. Michigan edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson is second with +135 odds to be the No. 1 pick.

NC State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu is a distant third with +1000 odds. Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal’s +1200 odds suggest he’s the fourth-most likely player to come off the board first.

The Jacksonville Jaguars own the No. 1 pick. The first round starts Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.

Walker’s draft stock has soared in recent weeks. The 21-year-old had previously been a long shot to be picked first, opening with +3000 odds at BetMGM.

It wasn’t long ago that Hutchinson was viewed as the favorite to go to Jacksonville. The Michigan star was the runner-up for the 2021 Heisman Trophy award. In 14 games, Hutchinson had 14 sacks and 62 total tackles.

Walker had 6.0 sacks in 13 games for the national champions. His performance at the Scouting Combine and potential upside in the NFL could propel him ahead of players like Hutchinson, who had better stats in college.

Both Ekwonu and Neal have spent time as betting favorites to be the No. 1 pick this offseason. The latest odds indicate that Jacksonville is leaning toward picking a pass rusher instead of fortifying its offensive line with the first pick.

According to Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline, Jaguars General manager Trent Baalke wants Walker, while Jaguars owner Shad Khan prefers Hutchinson.

Hutchinson is favored to go second overall with -130 odds. Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux has +200 odds to be the No. 2 overall pick, putting him well ahead of Ekwonu and Neal.

The Detroit Lions have the second pick in the draft.