Malik Nabers vs. Rome Odunze: Who Should NFL Teams & Bettors Target in Round 1?
Numerous wide receivers are anticipated to be selected in the initial round of the NFL draft this Thursday. We are examining the 2024 NFL Draft odds from our top NFL betting platforms as they relate to the potential matchup between Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze in the first round.
Marvin Harrison Jr. from Ohio State has been the projected top wide receiver pick for the 2024 NFL Draft for more than a year. As the draft approaches on April 25-27 in Detroit, Michigan, there have been minimal changes in the predictions, with Harrison heavily favored at -2400 to be the first wide receiver selected in the first round on Thursday night.
At 8 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN, NFL Network), the first round of the NFL draft will begin, with all indications suggesting that Harrison will be chosen within the top five picks. It is widely anticipated that the Arizona Cardinals will select him, and he is considered a favorite to win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award due to his expected immediate impact.
However, despite Harrison’s projected dominance, LSU’s Malik Nabers and Washington’s Rome Odunze are key reasons why this is considered one of the strongest WR classes in recent memory. Both are anticipated to be top 10 picks according to our top sports betting platforms, with Nabers potentially being selected before Odunze. Nevertheless, the NFL draft is known for its unpredictability.
When ChatGPT created a 2024 NFL mock draft for us, it predicted that Odunze would be selected before Nabers. Recent speculation suggests that this scenario could actually play out. We examine the debate between Nabers and Odunze, as well as other wide receiver prospects, including a sleeper pick we identified in our NFL draft predictions.
2024 NFL Draft odds: Second wide receiver selected
| Player | DraftKings | FanDuel | bet365 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malik Nabers | -340 | -370 | -350 |
| Rome Odunze | +300 | +340 | +280 |
| Marvin Harrison Jr. | +750 | +850 | +650 |
| Brian Thomas Jr. | +6000 | +7500 | +7500 |
| Adonai Mitchell | +9000 | +10000 | +10000 |
The debate: Nabers vs. Odunze
Nabers is heavily favored to be the second wide receiver chosen on Thursday night, with his odds making it a risky market to bet on. The odds suggest a 77.27% chance that the LSU star will be picked after Harrison. While we anticipate Nabers being selected before Odunze, it’s surprising that he is such a strong favorite in a market with little concrete evidence.
According to most evaluations, Nabers and Odunze would typically be considered the top wide receiver prospects in many draft classes. However, the two leading draft analysts in the industry have differing opinions on their rankings. Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranks Nabers below Harrison, while Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network, known for his extensive connections, places Odunze as his second-ranked wide receiver.
It is surprising that Nabers is heavily favored to go before Odunze, considering that Odunze is a more traditional outside X-receiver at 6-foot-3, 212 pounds, while Nabers is more of a Z/slot receiver at 6-foot, 199 pounds.
In the end, we predict that Nabers will be selected before Odunze. However, the current odds are not favorable enough to warrant placing a bet on the outcome. Additionally, the presence of highly sought-after quarterbacks and offensive linemen may cause teams in need of wide receivers, such as the Los Angeles Chargers, New York Giants, and Chicago Bears, to look elsewhere in the draft. The depth of talent in the wide receiver group is what makes this draft class particularly intriguing for NFL fans nationwide.
DraftKings has the best odds at -340 for Nabers to be the second wide receiver selected.
Terms and conditions apply.
Over/Under wide receivers selected in the first round
| Underscoreg | Over | Under |
|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | 6.5 (+235) | 6.5 (-310) |
| FanDuel | 6.5 (+225) | 6.5 (-350) |
| BetMGM | 6.5 (+230) | 6.5 (-323) |
| Caesars | 6.5 (+290) | 6.5 (-400) |
| bet365 | 6.5 (+225) | 6.5 (-300) |
It is astonishing that the Over/Under for wide receivers selected in the first round is set at 6.5, with a compelling case to bet on the Over. Throughout the common draft era, only once in 1967 have more than 6.5 wide receivers been chosen in the first round. The 2004 NFL Draft saw seven WRs drafted in the first round, including Larry Fitzgerald, Roy Williams, and Reggie Williams within the first 10 picks.
Similar to 2004, three wide receivers – Harrison, Nabers, and Odunze – are expected to be selected in the top 10 of the upcoming draft. If this scenario plays out, there is a strong possibility that up to seven wide receivers could be chosen in the first round, particularly due to the high demand for wide receiver assistance from various Super Bowl contenders.
The odds at +225 from FanDuel suggest a 30.77% chance of the Over hitting, but this draft is known for its strong wide receiver class and lack of top defensive prospects. Teams outside the top 10, such as the Colts, Jaguars, Steelers, Bills, 49ers (if Aiyuk is traded), and Chiefs, are considering selecting wide receivers. The Falcons may also be interested if the right player falls or if they decide to trade back in the first round.
While it may be unlikely that all teams will choose a wide receiver, only four selections are needed for this prop to be successful. There are often surprise teams that choose to draft a receiver. The main challenge for this class is the depth of the position, causing some teams to wait until later rounds to select a pass catcher.
Nevertheless, there is no doubt that at least seven receivers have the potential to be selected on Thursday night. In Jeremiah’s ultimate rankings, he included seven wide receivers in his top 32 and 11 in his top 50.
Caesars offers the best odds at +290 for Over 6.5.
Terms and conditions apply.
First round wide receiver odds
| Player | DraftKings | FanDuel | bet365 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Harrison Jr. | OFF | OFF | OFF |
| Malik Nabers | OFF | OFF | OFF |
| Rome Odunze | OFF | OFF | OFF |
| Brian Thomas Jr. | OFF | OFF | OFF |
| Xavier Worthy | -900 | -750 | -500 |
| Adonai Mitchell | -450 | -320 | -550 |
| Ladd McConkey | -125 | +125 | -105 |
| Xavier Legette | +135 | +125 | +140 |
| Troy Franklin | +300 | +430 | +350 |
| Ja’Lynn Polk | +300 | +430 | +425 |
| Keon Coleman | +380 | +340 | +400 |
The top sportsbooks are not offering odds on Harrison, Nabers, Odunze, or Brian Thomas Jr. being selected in the first round, as it is widely expected that they will be chosen on Thursday. However, the market is showing a high level of confidence in the Texas duo of Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell being picked in the first round.
Despite breaking the 40-yard dash record with a time of 4.21, Worthy has been a divisive prospect leading up to the draft. However, with the Bills and Chiefs selecting at the end of the first round, it is anticipated that Worthy will bring his exceptional speed to these competitive teams. Conversely, Mitchell has been identified as a first-round talent despite his inconsistent performance in college.
Worthy has a 90% chance of going in the first round with -900 odds, while Mitchell has an 84.62% probability of joining him with -550 odds. This means that six receivers are overwhelmingly predicted by sportsbooks to be selected in the first round.
Keep an eye on Georgia’s Ladd McConkey, recognized for his exceptional route running skills and impressive performance at both the NFL Combine and his pro day. Ranked at No. 30 by Jeremiah and No. 31 by Brugler, McConkey falls within the Chiefs’ range of potential draft picks if the top receivers are already taken.
South Carolina’s Xavier Legette and Florida State’s Keon Coleman are the wildcards to watch, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, who sees them as potential surprise first-round picks. Along with McConkey, they present the most intriguing odds in this group.
Ladd McConkey is the favorite with +125 odds on FanDuel.
This offer is only available to new customers who deposit a minimum of $5. Place your first bet of $5 or more, and if it wins within 72 hours, you will receive $200 in Bonus Bets.
Check out our best NFL betting sites:
- Caesars Promo Code: SBRBONUS1000 | Read our Caesars Review
- BetMGM Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetMGM Review
- bet365 Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our bet365 Review
- BetRivers Promo Code: SBRBONUS | Read ourBetRivers Review
- FanDuel Promo Code | Read our FanDuel Review
- DraftKings Promo Code| Read our DraftKings Review
*Bonuses are not valid for residents of Ontario. If you are 21 or older and have a gambling problem, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Related pages
- Best Sports Betting Sites | Best Underscoreg Promos (U.S. only)
Related Articles
