The 2020 NFL Draft is set to begin Thursday, April 23, and 255 players will be selected by teams as they begin their quest to play professional football`. The complexity of football makes the NFL draft, in my opinion, the most exciting of any of the professional leagues as a generational player can be selected in any round, at any position.
For all we know, the next Bobby Wagner, Derrick Brooks or Von Miller could be drafted this year. Here, we analyze the odds and best bets for the first linebacker to be selected in the 2020 NFL Draft.
2020 NFL Draft odds:
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday, March 21 at 2:50 p.m. ET.
Player |
School |
Odds |
| Isaiah Simmons | Clemson | -3334 |
| K’Lavon Chaisson | LSU | +900 |
| Patrick Queen | LSU | +1200 |
| Kenneth Murray | Oklahoma | +1500 |
| Zack Baun | Wisconsin | +3300 |
| Akeem Davis-Gaither | Appalachian State | +3300 |
| Willie Gay Jr. | Mississippi State | +3300 |
| Troy Dye | Oregon | +3300 |
| Curtis Weaver | Boise State | +5000 |
Who will be the first linebacker drafted? Best bets
Unfortunately, this is a STAY AWAY as far as gambling is concerned because Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons (-3334) has this so locked up it’s not worth even taking a flyer on another linebacker. For example, Simmons had more sacks, tackles for a loss, pass deflections, interceptions and forced fumbles than BetMGM’s second and third favorites for linebackers to be drafted first — LSU Tigers teammates K’Lavon Chaisson (+900) and Patrick Queen (+1200).
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The only argument you could make about Simmons not being the first linebacker drafted is that he’s so dynamic as an athlete that he transcends any single position. Simmons entered the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine as the nation’s most decorated college linebacker, winning the Butkus Award and ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and being named a unanimous first-team All-American. His combine performance only padded his lead as the top-ranked linebacker entering the draft. Simmons wowed scouts by running a 4.39 40-yard dash and posting a 39-inch vertical jump and an 11-foot broad jump — making him the first draft prospect since 2003 that weigh more than 230 pounds to post such numbers (according to NFL research). Simmons being the first linebacker selected at the 2020 NFL Draft is the lock of the event.
Which team will select the first linebacker?
I’ll side with network colleague Luke Easterling of USA TODAY Draft Wire’s mock draft and say Isaiah Simmons (-3334) is drafted No. 7 overall by the Carolina Panthers.
Simmons could be drafted No. 3 by the Detroit Lions or No. 4 by the New York Giants. But after Detroit traded Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Lions will most likely select Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Jeff Okudah. The Giants will probably look to upgrade their offensive line after signing linebackers Blake Martinez and Kyler Fackrell. The Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers are both projected to select quarterbacks with the fifth and sixth picks, respectively, which brings us to the Panthers at seven. Carolina could really use a stud linebacker since eventual Hall of Famer Luke Kuechly’s retirement this offseason. Also, the Panthers were ranked 31st in opponent’s points per game and 23rd in yards allowed per game with Kuechly on the team.
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