2020 NFL Draft: Which WR will be drafted first?

A look at the WRs who could be drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft and who is most likely to go first and to which team.

The 2020 NFL Draft is set to begin Thursday, April 23, and 255 players will be selected by teams to move on and play professional football. Several wide receivers are expected to be drafted and many in the first round. Here, we analyze the odds and best bets for the first wide receiver selected in the 2020 draft.

2020 NFL Draft odds: Which WR will be drafted first?

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday, March 19 at 10:45 a.m. ET.

Sixteen receivers are expected to be drafted and have odds to be the first selected. One is the odds-on favorite. Here are the odds.

  • Jerry Jeudy, Alabama -118
  • CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma +120
  • Henry Ruggs III, Alabama +700
  • Tee Higgins,  Clemson +2000
  • Justin Jefferson, LSU +3300
  • K.J. Hamler, Penn State +4000
  • Denzel Mims, Baylor +6600
  • Laviska Shenault Jr., Colorado +6600
  • Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State +10000
  • Donovan Peoples-Jones, Liberty +15000
  • Jalen Reagor, TCU +15000
  • Chase Claypool, Notre Dame, +25000
  • Gabriel Davis, UCF +25000
  • K.J. Hill, Ohio State +25000
  • Van Jefferson, Florida +25000
  • Michael Pittman Jr., USC +25000

Who will be the first WR drafted? Best bets


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Jeudy is the favorite but most mock drafts have had the top receiver split between him and Lamb.

The teams with the most glaring needs at receiver in the top half of the draft are the Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders, San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos. The Cardinals pick at No. 8 overall, while the Raiders are 12th (and 19th), the 49ers are 13th (after a trade with the Indianapolis Colts) and the Broncos will pick 15th.

The Cardinals, though, recently agreed to a trade to acquire WR DeAndre Hopkins from the Houston Texans, which would make it appear they will no longer take a receiver in the first round.

Cardinals QB Kyler Murray was a college teammate of Lamb and has openly lobbied for the Cardinals to draft him. The Raiders have also coveted him.

Jeudy is believed to be a slightly more complete receiver but Lamb draws comparisons to Hopkins. Both are similar in size, speed and athleticism.

Given the situation with receivers, it is basically a 50/50 bet between Lamb and Jeudy. Since the value lies with Lamb, the best bet is to go with Lamb at +120.

If you are looking for a sleeper who can pay out a lot, put some money on Ruggs at +700. If the Cardinals don’t take a receiver, remember the Raiders have always coveted receivers who can run. Ruggs is the fastest player in the draft.

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