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The highly anticipated 2024 NFL Draft begins Thursday night in Detroit. Thirteen expected future NFL players are confirmed to attend — a low number compared to the past drafts — with the hopes of hearing their names called and receiving the big hug or handshake from Commissioner Roger Goodell. Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NFL Draft odds for NFL prospects and tab the best bets for who will be the No. 2 overall pick — just one of many SportsbookWire’s expert NFL picks and predictions.
The Washington Commanders currently have the No. 2 pick. The Chicago Bears own the No. 1 pick.
LSU QB Jayden Daniels has been moving up on draft boards throughout the draft process. This tantalizing prospect has scouts drooling over his playmaking ability with his arm and legs. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner threw for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns during his magical 2023 campaign. NFL.com lists him at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds.
The other name that has been thrown around since the NFL Draft order was set is North Carolina QB Drake Maye. He put up impressive numbers as a redshirt sophomore, throwing for 3,608 yards and 24 touchdowns with 9 interceptions. What seems to be glossed over is his rushing ability, Maye ran for 449 yards and another 9 TDs. The downside to having all that aforementioned arm talent and confidence is the occasional “heat check” throw that almost seem arrogant at first glance.
The Commanders have done a great job keeping this No. 2 pick a mystery. It seems like every top quarterback prospect has been named in a report connecting them to Washington.
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2024 NFL Draft second overall pick odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 4:05 a.m. ET.
- QB Jayden Daniels: -450 (bet $450 to win $100)
- QB Drake Maye: +350 (bet $100 to win $350)
- QB J.J. McCarthy: +1200 (bet $100 to win $1,200)
- QB Caleb Williams: +10000 (bet $100 to win $10,000)
- WR Marvin Harrison Jr.: +12500 (bet $100 to win $12,500)
- WR Malik Nabers: +15000 (bet $100 to win $15,000)
- QB Bo Nix +15000 (bet $100 to win $15,000)
- QB Michael Penix Jr. +15000 (bet $100 to win $15,000)
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The pick – JAYDEN DANIELS (-450)
Commanders GM Adam Peters was handpicked by the new ownership group in Washington to rebuild the organization to its former glory and that starts by hitting a home run with their new franchise quarterback.
Daniels will bring an excitement to D.C. that it hasn’t seen since Robert Griffin III lit the league on fire during his rookie season. He also brings a ton of playing experience having played 5 years of collegiate ball; 3 years at Arizona State and 2 years at LSU.
The Commanders also brought in Kliff Kingsbury as their new offensive coordinator. He has extensive experience mentoring young talented quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes in college and Kyler Murray at the professional level. FanDuel Sportsbook recently had Daniels’ odds at -340 to be the second overall pick.
Contender – DRAKE MAYE (+350)
When the NFL regular season ended and the Commanders landed the No. 2 pick, Maye was the initial favorite to be the selection. It’s hard not to like Maye being the quintessential quarterback prototype, standing 6-4 and 223 pounds. Most draft scouts have called him a more mobile version of Chargers QB Justin Herbert. He has a big arm and a gun slinger mentality.
As the draft process has moved forward, the stock on Maye has dropped. The criticism of the Tar Heel quarterback has grown harsher and, in my opinion, more knit picky. The knock has been that he tends to make bad plays worse by throwing head-scratching interceptions in an attempt to save a play.
Maye should be a good pro quarterback for whatever team ends up drafting him and that includes the Commanders. Washington fans would get behind this kid because they believe that this new regime is moving things in the right direction.
Long shot – MARVIN HARRISON JR. (+12500)
Harrison Jr. is arguably the best overall football player in this 2024 NFL Draft class. There is an outside chance that the Commanders decide to just take the best player available with that No. 2 pick which would definitely invigorate this fan base. The idea of having WR Terry McLaurin and Harrison Jr. lining up together has to be tempting.
Washington definitely needs a quarterback to lead this team into the future, but there are a lot of quality signal callers in this draft class. Washington has 9 picks in this draft, including two early selections in the 2nd round which could still nab them a good gunslinger.
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