Betting odds for Jaguars’ first-round pick in 2023 NFL Draft

It was much easier to predict what the Jacksonville Jaguars planned to do with their first pick in the last two drafts. There was little question that quarterback Trevor Lawrence would be the pick in 2021, and only a few prospects had much of a shot at being the guy in 2022.

The same can’t be said this time around.

After winning the AFC South and a playoff game, the Jaguars are now set to pick 24th overall and the team doesn’t have a glaring need at any particular position. Several spots — including cornerback, defensive end, outside linebacker, tight end, and offensive tackle — could all make sense.

Oddsmakers agree, as the betting line for the position of the Jaguars’ first pick has no runaway favorite:

• Cornerback: +175 (via DraftKings), +175 (via FanDuel)
• Defensive line/EDGE: +225 (via DraftKings), +430 (via FanDuel)
• Offensive line: +275 (via DraftKings), +320 (via FanDuel)
• Tight end: +600 (via DraftKings), +320 (via FanDuel)
• Linebacker: +1500 (via DraftKings), +2500 (via FanDuel)
• Safety: +2000 (via DraftKings), +1500 (via FanDuel)
• Wide receiver: +2500 (via DraftKings), +1100 (via FanDuel)
• Running back: +3500 (via DraftKings), +5000 (via FanDuel)
• Quarterback: +20000 (via DraftKings), +15000 (via FanDuel)
• Kicker/punter/long snapper: +20000 (via DraftKings)

Both sportsbooks consider cornerback the favorite, but defensive linemen, edge rushers, offensive linemen, and tight ends aren’t far behind.

Perhaps the best value bets are the +430 for defensive linemen and pass rushers at FanDuel and the +2500 for a wide receiver at DraftKings.

The Jaguars have spent much of their pre-draft efforts on evaluating linemen and pass rushers, bringing in Tyree Wilson, Nolan Smith, and Myles Murphy, among others, for visits.

Wide receiver should certainly be a long shot after the Jaguars added Calvin Ridley to a corps that already has Christian Kirk and Zay Jones. But the Jaguars did bring in TCU’s Quentin Johnston for a visit, and could use the 6’3 ball-winner to complement a mostly small, speedy receiver group. The 25-to-1 potential payout is worth a flyer.