2024 NFL Draft picks and predictions

2024 NFL Draft best bets: Who will draft QB Michael Penix Jr.?

Breaking down the 2024 NFL Draft odds and tabbing who will draft QB Michael Penix Jr. with expert NFL picks and predictions.

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The 2024 NFL Draft begins Thursday, and football fans should be starting to get excited for their team to drastically improve in the next few days. That said, only one will come out with Washington star QB Michael Penix Jr. Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NFL Draft odds for QB Michael Penix Jr. and tab which team will draft him — just one of many SportsbookWire’s expert NFL picks and predictions.

Penix Jr. finished 2nd in the 2023 Heisman Trophy race, losing the prestigious award to LSU QB Jayden Daniels. The Huskies star did have an impressive season, throwing for 36 touchdowns and 4,903 passing yards. He ended with 11 interceptions.

Penix Jr. started his career with Indiana, spending four seasons with the Hoosiers and playing 7 or fewer games in each campaign with IU. He transferred to Washington where he became a superstar and now has the potential to be a 1st-round pick. Penix threw for 67 touchdowns and over 9,000 yards at Washington through the 2 seasons.

The strong left-handed talent has the potential to be a top-32 pick in the NFL Draft. Let’s dive into which team one should bet on drafting Penix Jr.

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NFL odds: Who will draft Michael Penix Jr.?

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 2:46 p.m. ET.

FAVORITES

Las Vegas Raiders: +200 (bet $100 to win $200)
Minnesota Vikings: +400 (bet $100 to win $400)
Denver Broncos: +650 (bet $100 to win $650)
Seattle Seahawks: +650 (bet $100 to win $650)

For more odds: See BetMGM Sportsbook

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NFL Draft: Best bets

The pick – LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (+200)

Given Penix’s history of injuries, he should fall in the draft. He’s an ultra-talented prospect with one of the strongest arms in the draft, but the injury concerns should shy teams away from him as a top-20 pick.

The late 1st round or early 2nd is where he should go. The Raiders, who draft at 13, likely won’t get a top prospect, and they could either trade down into the 1st round or trade up into the 2nd. Some mock drafts have them taking Penix at 13, but that seems high for a player with an injury history as rich as his.

Many teams need a quarterback, and Penix is a high-risk proposition for organizations looking to improve at the position. However, he did play 28 games in his last 2 seasons in college and could be a great option for the Raiders, especially considering the deep threat that WR Davante Adams is.

At +200, the books have odds but no clear favorite, and Penix Jr. to the Raiders makes the most sense as they could use a high-risk option at QB.

Sleeper – LOS ANGELES RAMS (+1300)

The Rams are aging, and while they did capitalize on their trade for QB Matthew Stafford, he’s 36 years old and dealing with injuries. That’s where Penix Jr. could slide in. With a duo of elite weapons and a strong coaching staff, Penix could be a great option for the Rams, who draft at 19 and 52.

They could also be a trade-down candidate with Penix Jr. potentially falling into the high 2nd round. Los Angeles needs to prepare for the future, and without a quality option behind Stafford, it makes sense for the Rams to target Penix Jr., one of the most-decorated collegiate quarterbacks.

For the value play, take RAMS (+1300).

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2024 NFL Draft best bets: Who will draft QB Bo Nix?

Breaking down the 2024 NFL Draft odds and tabbing who will draft QB Bo Nix with expert NFL picks and predictions.

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The 2024 NFL Draft begins Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET, and fans should be excited about their favorite team getting better. Only one team will come away with QB Bo Nix, and here’s who we think it could be. Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NFL Draft odds for QB Bo Nix and tab which team will draft him — just one of many SportsbookWire’s expert NFL picks and predictions.

Nix was a well-known college standout quarterback. The 6-foot-3 QB finished third in the 2023 Heisman Trophy race, one ultimately won by LSU’s Jayden Daniels.

Nix, who was a 3-year starter at Auburn, transferred to Oregon where he started 2 more seasons. After a 29-TD campaign in 2022-23, Last season, he ended with 45 passing touchdowns, 3 interceptions and 4,508 passing yards. He also edged his completion percentage higher each of his 5 seasons, topping out at 77.4%.

Nix is among the more experienced NFL prospects, which isn’t always a plus considering he’s already 24 years old. While a big-name player, Nix is projected to be an NFL Draft Day 2 pick, going somewhere between the 2nd and 4th rounds. That said, let’s dive into where he may head and how to bet on it.

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NFL odds: Who will draft Bo Nix?

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 2:18 p.m. ET.

FAVORITES

Denver Broncos: -130 (bet $130 to win $100)
Minnesota Vikings: +600 (bet $100 to win $600)
Las Vegas Raiders: +700 (bet $100 to win $700)
Los Angeles Rams: +700 (bet $100 to win $700)
New York Giants: +700 (bet $100 to win $700)

For more odds: See BetMGM Sportsbook

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NFL Draft: Best bets

The pick – DENVER BRONCOS (-130)

The coach Sean Payton-led Broncos should be the team most eyeing Nix. While Denver is the favorite, it makes the most sense too. Payton thrived with the ultra-accurate Drew Brees in New Orleans, winning a Super Bowl there.

While Nix is still an incomplete player and struggled during his time at Auburn, he has experience and could immediately be an upgrade at the position for Denver. He improved tremendously and is among the most experienced players in the draft after thriving with the Ducks’ high-paced offense.

The Broncos, who have an underwhelming amount of draft capital after trading for Russell Wilson, could even trade back and still scoop up Nix in the 1st round or even early- or mid-2nd round. The Broncos have already “made calls” about trading down, and Nix could be one of the best value adds for a team early in the 2nd round.

While Minnesota is a good contender here, it will have other high-profile options like J.J. McCarthy to potentially choose from, whereas the Broncos likely won’t and may have to wait for a prospect like Nix to fall.

For this value, take DENVER BRONCOS (-130).

Sleeper – NEW YORK JETS (+5000)

Nix has one of the highest floors among any draft prospect. His experience at the collegiate level, ability to learn new offenses and succeed, and completion percentage over the last few seasons suggest he could be a strong backup for a team.

He could fall into the 3rd round too, especially if Denver passes on him. The Jets have QB Aaron Rodgers, so they aren’t looking for a starter. They do need a quality backup that has the potential to learn under Rodgers, like QB Jordan Love, and become a similar version of the star quarterback.

Insert Nix. While the odds reflect the likelihood of this, there is a slim chance that Nix falls, and the Jets, who are strong at many other positions like cornerback and wide receiver, look to fortify their quarterback room for the 2024 season.

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2024 NFL Draft best bets: Who will draft QB Jayden Daniels?

Breaking down the 2024 NFL Draft odds and tabbing who will draft QB Jayden Daniels with expert NFL picks and predictions.

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The 2024 NFL Draft is Thursday, and the excitement for your favorite team to get even better should already be brewing. Which of the 32 teams will get 2023 Heisman QB Jayden Daniels? Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NFL Draft odds for QB Jayden Daniels and tab which team will draft him — just one of many SportsbookWire’s expert NFL picks and predictions.

Daniels was absolutely awing to watch in his time at LSU. While the Tigers didn’t do as well in SEC play as they would’ve liked, Daniels blew up and should be a top-5 pick Thursday night. He ended the season with 3,812 passing yards and 40 passing touchdowns, throwing just 4 interceptions.

Daniels transferred from Arizona State in 2022 and joined the Tigers, ending 2023 with 17 passing TDs and 3 interceptions. His dual-threat nature must be noted as well as he ran for 1,134 rushing yards, adding 10 more touchdowns to his resume in 2023.

The thing most teams should be concerned about is if he can take those talents to the next level, much like QB Lamar Jackson did with the Baltimore Ravens. Jackson ended last season with a 72.2% completion rate, showing a great presence in the pocket and is expected to be a top-3 pick in the upcoming draft.

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NFL odds: Who will draft Jayden Daniels?

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 11:29 a.m. ET.

FAVORITES

Washington Commanders: -500 (bet $500 to win $100)
New England Patriots: +350 (bet $100 to win $350)
Las Vegas Raiders: +500 (bet $100 to win $500)
Minnesota Vikings: +900 (bet $100 to win $900)

For more odds: See BetMGM Sportsbook

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NFL Draft: Best bets

The pick – NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (+350)

There are too many potential unknown trades and such to consider Daniels at No. 2 at -500, where the Commanders currently are. He’s a strong favorite there, but QBs like Drake Maye out of North Carolina and J.J. McCarthy out of Michigan are options at No. 2 and both have high ceilings given what they showed at the collegiate level.

For the Patriots, getting Daniels would be a home run. While he is the opposite of the quarterback the Patriots normally had, Daniels would usher in a different and unique era in New England, one welcome given the Patriots’ limited playmakers.

That’s what the Patriots need, and they reportedly have a “high grade” on Daniels. If Maye goes 2nd (to the Commanders) as many expect, Daniels is great value here.

Sleeper – DENVER BRONCOS (+3000)

The Broncos need a new quarterback, which could be the answer to coach Sean Payton quickly turning the team around. Daniels is one of the few quarterbacks in the draft who can create at a high level both through the air and on the ground.

If Daniels falls, the Broncos should become a real contender. They currently have the No. 12 pick, but they may only have to trade up to No. 6 or No. 8, jumping the Vikings at 11, to draft the LSU arm-slinger. The odds for Daniels to fall and GMs to think his skill set won’t translate is the best value for betting purposes.

The latest 2024 NFL mock draft done by Pro Football Focus has the Broncos trading with New England to jump to No. 3 and snag Daniels. At +3000, the Broncos are a team desperate for a new quarterback and have the assets to move up and get one. It is a good sleeper pick here.

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2024 NFL Draft best bets: Who will draft QB J.J. McCarthy?

Breaking down the 2024 NFL Draft odds and tabbing who will draft QB J.J. McCarthy with expert NFL picks and predictions.

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With the 2024 NFL Draft to begin Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, many young athletes will see their dreams realized. One player expecting to hear his name called is Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy. Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NFL Draft odds for QB J.J. McCarthy and tab which team will draft him — just one of many SportsbookWire’s expert NFL picks and predictions.

There are a ton of ways that Thursday could go, but McCarthy is almost guaranteed to hear his name called in the 1st round. There is a wide range of where he could be selected though, with CBS Sports’ most recent mock draft pegging him as the 3rd overall pick, while Pro Football Focus had him getting selected at No. 9.

McCarthy helped lead the NCAA Championship-winning Wolverines last season. He ended both the 2022 and 2023 seasons with 22 passing touchdowns and a total of 9 interceptions. McCarthy showed great improvement as well, including his completion rate by 7% each of his 3 seasons at Michigan.

While McCarthy isn’t the big name that projected No. 1 overall pick QB Caleb Williams out of USC is, he’s a proven winner and should be among the first 30 players taken in the 2024 NFL Draft.

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NFL odds: Who will draft J.J. McCarthy?

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 11:06 a.m. ET.

FAVORITES

Minnesota Vikings: +125 (bet $100 to win $125)
New York Giants: +280 (bet $100 to win $280)
Denver Broncos: +325 (bet $100 to win $325)
New England Patriots: +400 (bet $100 to win $400)

For more odds: See BetMGM Sportsbook

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NFL Draft: Best bets

The pick – NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (+350)

While the Vikings, the current favorite, are a strong option, McCarthy is being popularly mocked to the Patriots at No. 3, and he fits a similar mold to when QB Mac Jones was drafted by New England in 2021. Jones was a winner at the college level (Alabama) and an ultra-accurate passers.

While McCarthy isn’t quite there on the latter, he did hit over 72% of his passes as a junior and won a National Championship. He’s a winner, and that seems to be the type of player the Patriots target. While LSU QB Jayden Daniels or North Carolina QB Drake Maye could be on the board, the rumors are that the Patriots are “likely” to draft McCarthy.

Basically speaking, they’re going to go quarterback, and McCarthy has the most accolades at the collegiate level of the 3 and seems like a good fit in New England.

For this value, take NEW ENGLAND (+300) to snag the Michigan standout.

Sleeper – LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (+1300)

If McCarthy falls, like QB Will Levis last season, he may get further than most expect. While both the aforementioned CBS Sports and PFF mock drafts have him as a top-10 pick, the Raiders sit at No. 13 and could either jump into the top 10 or see him fall to 13.

With QBs Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew on the roster, the Raiders will be able to win games but should realize neither of those signal-callers will take them far in the playoffs. With WR Davante Adams likely looking to capitalize on his prime, the time is now to get a QB who can carry your team, and McCarthy has proven he can do that.

The Raiders will need a quarterback in the 1st round, and McCarthy, who isn’t as flashy on the field as Williams or Daniels, could drop like both Jones and Levis did. If he’s there with the Raiders on the board, there’s no reason they pass on him unless Daniels or another top quarterback hasn’t been picked yet, which is unlikely.

At this value, as a sleeper pick, take LAS VEGAS (+1300).

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2024 NFL Draft best bets: Who will draft TE Brock Bowers?

Breaking down the 2024 NFL Draft odds and tabbing who will draft TE Brock Bowers with expert NFL picks and predictions.

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The 2024 NFL Draft is this week. The 3-day event begins with the 1st round Thursday, starting at 8 p.m. ET (NFL Network, ESPN, ABC). Only 1 tight end is expected to be selected in the 1st round and it could be a top-10 selection. Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NFL Draft odds for TE Brock Bowers and tab which team will draft him — just one of many SportsbookWire’s expert NFL picks and predictions.

Bowers became the 1st player in history to win the John Mackey (the nation’s top tight end) twice, winning it in 2022 and 2023. He was a 2nd-team or 1st-team All-American all 3 of his seasons at Georgia.

In 3 college seasons, he caught 175 passes for 2,538 yards and 26 touchdowns.

He is by far the best tight end in the draft, so much that there aren’t even odds for him to be the first tight end selected.

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NFL odds: Who will draft Brock Bowers?

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 10:40 a.m. ET.

FAVORITES

New York Jets: +150 (bet $100 to win $150)
Indianapolis Colts: +350 (bet $100 to win $350)
Cincinnati Bengals: +900 (bet $100 to win $900)
Denver Broncos: +1000 (bet $100 to win $1,000)
Los Angeles Chargers: +1000 (bet $100 to win $1,000)

For more: See BetMGM Sportsbook

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NFL Draft: Best bets

The pick – NEW YORK JETS (+150)

The Jets have the 10th overall pick and are in a win-now phase with QB Aaron Rodgers in the fold. The top three receivers in the draft will likely be off the board by the 10th pick.

The Jets could go with a tackle but spent money bringing in veteran offensive linemen in free agency. Drafting one 10th overall would not give them someone who would contribute immediately.

They have TE Tyler Conklin already, but Bowers is a special talent. Bowers should be able to produce right away as a rookie, improving the Jets offense.

Sleeper – LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (+1000)

The Chargers own the 5th pick in the draft. They could trade out of the pick down to No. 11 or No. 12. That would be behind the Jets, but new coach Jim Harbaugh loves tight ends and the Chargers’ best one, TE Will Dissly, has never had more than 34 catches in a season.

So, if they trade back, they could trade back up ahead of the Jets and nab Bowers, or they could take him outright at No. 11 or No. 12 if the Jets decided to go with a tackle or cornerback at No. 10.

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2024 NFL Draft best bets: Who will be the first defensive player drafted?

Breaking down the 2024 NFL Draft odds and tabbing the best bets for who will be the first defensive player selected.

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The 2024 NFL Draft is set for Thursday through Saturday, and it will take place in downtown Detroit. Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NFL Draft odds for NFL prospects and tab who will be the first defensive player drafted — just one of many SportsbookWire’s expert NFL picks and predictions.

In 2023, it didn’t take long for the first defensive player to go off of the board. The Houston Texans jumped all over Alabama LB Will Anderson Jr. with the No. 3 overall pick. In fact, we had 4 defensive players go in the first 9 picks, and 10 go in the first 19 selections.

Let’s take a look at the prospects for the 2024 NFL Draft, and tab who should be the first defensive player to go off the board.

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NFL odds: First defensive player drafted

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 10:10 a.m. ET.

LB Dallas Turner: +100 (bet $100 to win $100)
DE Laiatu Latu: +200 (bet $100 to win $200)
DL Byron Murphy II: +250 (bet $100 to win $250)
DL Jared Verse: +900 (bet $100 to win $900)
CB Quinyon Mitchell: +1300 (bet $100 to win $1,300)
CB Terrion Arnold: +2000 (bet $100 to win $2,000)

For more odds: See BetMGM Sportsbook

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NFL Draft: Best bets

The pick – DALLAS TURNER (+100)

All of the talking heads seem to be in full agreement that another Alabama player, Turner, will be the first defensive player selected Thursday.

Turner was productive for Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide, registering 22.5 sacks with 58 solo tackles and 2 forced fumbles in his 3 seasons in Tuscaloosa. The 6-foot-4, 242-pound EDGE rusher might not be going far, either. A lot of experts seem to feel he’ll be headed up Interstate 20 a few hours to Atlanta as the Falcons have a need for somebody to get after the quarterback.

Worth a shot – JARED VERSE (+900)

The EDGE rusher spent 2 seasons at Florida State after transferring from UAlbany after the 2021 season. In 2 seasons in Tallahassee, Verse racked up 88 total stops, including 45 solo tackles, while registering 18 sacks with a forced fumble.

Verse might not be as polished of a pass rusher as Turner, but it’s possible one of the more needy defensive teams see his ceiling as a little bit higher, while Turner might be more of a plug-and-play option.

It will be interesting to see when Verse is selected as he could be the first defensive player taken in the top 10, or he could potentially fall past the top 20. This is a high-risk, high-reward type of wager.

Sleeper – QUINYON MITCHELL (+1300)

We’ve seen teams fall in love with a defensive prospect before, stunning the crowd and the talking heads with a shocking pick. Mitchell, the cornerback out of Toledo, has been scooting up draft boards and mock drafts everywhere.

In fact, Mitchell has surpassed Alabama’s Arnold as the top-rated cornerback by some experts.

Mitchell, who grew up near the University of Florida campus, didn’t get a chance to stay home. Instead, he headed to MAC country and starred for a good Toledo defense. He barely played in 2020 in the COVID season, but he starred in the past 3 campaigns, going for 117 total tackles, including 87 solo stops, with 45 passes defensed, a sack, a forced fumble and 6 interceptions, including 2 pick-sixes.

Cornerback-needy teams like the Las Vegas Raiders or Los Angeles Chargers might like Mitchell so much, they could potentially trade up to foil one another.

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2024 NFL Draft best bets: Who will be the first running back drafted?

Breaking down the 2024 NFL Draft odds and tabbing the best bets for who will be the first running back selected.

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The NFL returns Thursday night with the opening round of the 2024 NFL Draft from Detroit. The draft is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NFL Draft odds for NFL prospects and tab who will be the first running back drafted — just one of many SportsbookWire’s expert NFL picks and predictions.

The league was shaken up this offseason with many different ground-breaking transactions as a result of the NFL free-agency deadline in mid-March. With many big names changing teams, there are many holes teams will look to fill Thursday night.

With many teams looking for running backs, there is a lot of talent in the upcoming draft class that leaves the door open to who will be selected first.

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NFL odds: First running back drafted

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 4:37 p.m. ET.

Jonathon Brooks: -150 (bet $150 to win $100)
Trey Benson: +300 (bet $100 to win $300)
Blake Corum: +450 (bet $100 to win $450)
MarShawn Lloyd: +700 (bet $100 to win $700)
Jaylen Wright: +900 (bet $100 to win $900)
Will Shipley: +3000 (bet $100 to win $3,000)
Braelon Allen: +5000 (bet $100 to win $5,000)

For more odds: See BetMGM Sportsbook

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NFL Draft: Best bets

The pick – JONATHON BROOKS (-150)

With the best odds in the draft, the RB out of Texas has certainly demonstrated why he should be the first RB chosen Thursday. Similar to standout Texas RB Bijan Robinson, who was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2023 draft, Brooks has both power and elusiveness that many believe will translate to the pros.

He excels in forcing missed tackles from defenders and getting yards after contact. Brooks is also considered a dual-threat RB due to his ball-catching ability. He had 25 receptions for 286 yards last season with Texas.

Worth a shot – TREY BENSON (+300)

Benson and Brooks share a lot of similar qualities with their strength and elusiveness although Benson is considered more elusive than Brooks. His career missed tackles forced per attempt (0.39) ranks him 1st among all qualifying RBs since 2014.

The other big advantage the running back out of Florida State has over Brooks is health. Brooks only started 1 season at Texas due to playing behind Robinson and an ACL injury. While early RB selections have not always turned out to be fruitful in the past, selecting an RB with a former ACL injury may cause second thoughts meaning Benson would make a perfect selection instead.

Sleeper – MARSHAWN LLOYD (+700)

While Lloyd certainly does not possess the abilities that Brooks and Benson do, he led the draft class with 7.1 yards per attempt and was 1 of 5 FBS running backs with 100+ carries to average more than 7 yards per catch.

Lloyd may be worth a second look as a role player for certain teams more than an everyday back. The RB out of South Carolina and USC has shown potentially high upside in 3rd-down situations and ran a 4.46 40-time at the combine, showcasing his athleticism. While he wasn’t a big threat through the air in college, his yards-after-catch (YAC) ability could be just what NFL front offices are looking for.

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