We’re just hours away from the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and we only know one thing for certain: Bryce Young will be the No. 1 pick.
At least, that’s the case according to oddsmakers at FanDuel, where the Alabama quarterback is an overwhelming -5000 favorite to hear his name called first on Thursday night.
That comes after a wild two-week stretch that saw Young establish his case as the clear favorite – even as pre-draft rumors threw the market into turmoil in the days before the draft.
Young favored as No. 1 pick in 2023 NFL Draft
Virtually every mock draft in America has Young tabbed as the top pick in Thursday’s first round, especially after he shut down his pre-draft visits two weeks ago – which fueled speculation that the Panthers had informed him of their intentions at No. 1.
- Also read: 2023 sports bettors mock draft
Since then, just about every report out of Carolina has reiterated the team’s interest in Young, whom most draftniks have as the top quarterback in this year’s draft.
His size (5-10, 204 lbs) has been the only clear red flag in his pre-draft profile, though the other top passers in this class have faced much harsher criticisms for their play on the field or their perceived pro readiness.
That hasn’t slowed the hysteria in the betting market, especially over the last few days.
On Tuesday, an anonymous post on Reddit claimed that Kentucky quarterback Will Levis was “telling friends and family” that he’d be the first pick in Thursday’s draft.
That drove his odds in this market all the way from 40/1 down to 4/1 at some shops, though he’s since seen his price settle at 12/1 in the hours before the draft.
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud was the betting favorite to go No. 1 overall after the Panthers traded for the pick in mid-March, but concerns during his pre-draft process – including a reportedly low score on a cognitive test and less-than-stellar team interviews – have led to his draft stock tumbling ahead of Thursday.
He’s 30/1 to be the first pick as of Thursday afternoon.
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If you’re looking for a long shot in this market, there’s still a glimmer of hope with Florida’s Anthony Richardson (75/1), whom most draft experts agree has the highest ceiling of any passer in this class.
On Thursday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Panthers “were very intrigued” by Richardson during the evaluation process, even if the team is still expected to take Young with the top pick.
We’ve seen Richardson’s odds fluctuate mightily in this market, and it could be worth a late sprinkle ahead of what many are expecting to be an unpredictable night.