2024 NFL Draft: Betting odds released for number of quarterbacks taken in first round

If you study the NFL Draft, especially the first round, you can click off names of at least four quarterbacks destined to go amongst the top 32. But what about the fifth? Or a sixth?

The topic is a prop bet on FanDuel Sportsbook. How many quarterbacks will go in the first round of the NFL Draft, which starts in nine days?

Well, FanDuel puts the over/under at 4.5. The over has odds of -180. The under is +134. It’s the top four, with a whole lot of buzz about a fifth, plus a sixth if the round explodes with trades. Teams aren’t hesitant to start a rookie quarterback anymore, with 11 rookies getting the nod last season.

There are four QBs who are locks in NFL Draft

The Bears are a near certainty to select former USC star Caleb Williams with the top pick of the NFL Draft. Then LSU’s Jayden Daniels should go No. 2 to the Commanders. This narrative has been in place since both quarterbacks had their respective pro days last month.

There is some drama to look for early in the first round. Do the Patriots take Drake Maye at No. 3? New England desires another quarterback, but they also need a ton of help in other areas. Meanwhile, Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy is zooming up the NFL Draft boards. He may prompt a team to trade up, possibly with Arizona at No. 4 or the Chargers at No. 5.

Watch for Michael Penix Jr and Bo Nix

If you take the over, it’s because you’re thinking either Bo Nix (Oregon) or Michael Penix Jr (Washington) is worthy of a first-round selection. Penix seems to have the wind at his back when it comes to the NFL Draft. ESPN’s Mel Kiper said if teams can reconcile Penix’s early injury issues with his knee and shoulder, then he’s first-round gold.

But don’t sleep on Nix, who revived his football career by transferring from Auburn to Oregon. Draft analysts are starting to liken Nix to future Pro Football Hall of Famer Drew Brees. But remember that Brees reached the NFL as a second-round draft choice. There are other big name quarterbacks who won’t be first-rounders, guys like Spencer Rattler or Jordan Travis. Still, they will be popular later in the draft.

To get 5-6 quarterbacks in first round, these teams may trade

The Broncos, under head coach Sean Payton, need a quarterback after releasing Russell Wilson. So do the Vikings, who lost Kirk Cousins to the Falcons during free agency. Both these teams may want to trade into the top 10, possibly with either the Cardinals or Chargers, to draft a quarterback like McCarthy. You can toss the Raiders into the situation. They need immediate help.

Meanwhile, the Rams and Seahawks both have aging quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Geno Smith. They could use the first round of the NFL Draft to select a quarterback and know that guy can wait and watch.

Last time draft featured 5 QBs in 1st round didn’t turn out well

Remember the 2021 NFL Draft? There was so much chatter about quarterbacks and how many could go in the first round. The Jaguars made Clemson star Trevor Lawrence the top pick of the draft. The Jets followed with Zach Wilson at No. 2, then the 49ers traded up for Trey Lance, The other two quarterbacks in the first round were Justin Fields (Bears) and Mac Jones (Patriots).

Lawrence is the lone starter remaining. The Jets put Wilson on the trading block but have had no takers. The 49ers flipped Lance to the Cowboys for a fourth-rounder last summer. Chicago traded Fields to the Steelers and Jones now is Lawrence’s backup in Jacksonville.

All the NFL Draft fun starts April 25 in Detroit. You can follow On3’s draft coverage here.