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There’s no clear-cut choice for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, which kicks off Thursday. This year, who the Jacksonville Jaguars select remains a mystery.
That, of course, is a far cry from last year, when all of Earth and perhaps parts of Mars knew they would take quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Now, the consensus at OutKick is that the Jaguars will go with Michigan defensive end Aiden Hutchinson, as relayed by Armando Salguero.
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Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young (9) battles with Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Travon Walker (44) during the Alabama Crimson Tide versus the Georgia Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff National Championship, on January 10, 2022, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
But that’s not what the sportsbooks are saying. They’re saying that if you’re a betting man/woman, the smart money is on Georgia defensive end Travon Walker.
That’s a bit of a surprise because last week everyone agreed with OutKick, including the sportsbooks.
“Walker, who was not even listed when some sportsbooks set the odds on which player would be the No. 1 pick, surged passed Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson late Sunday and now sits atop oddsboards at books across the country,” wrote Dave Purdum of ESPN. “Hutchinson had been the outright favorite since early March.”
This is true. If you were going to place money on who went No. 1, you would place it on Hutchison.
Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Michigan Wolverines motions towards the line during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium on November 20, 2021 in College Park, Maryland. (G Fiume/Getty Images)
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As of Monday, PointsBet listed Walker as a -200 to go No. 1, with Hutchison at +160. Meanwhile, FanDuel has Walker at -200, with Hutchison at +250.
Granted, some of this is undoubtedly related to recent reports that Jaguars GM Trent Baalke is all about Walker.
“Ultimately, at the end of the day, Baalke gets the final call, which is why Walker is currently the overall favorite [to] go No. 1,” a PointsBet spokesman told ESPN on Monday.
Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Indianapolis. Walker is expected to be taken in the NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Of course, reports on what the Jaguars could just be one gigantic smokescreen, too. But for now, the sportsbooks are buying it.
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