2023 NFL Draft Bets, Predictions: Who Will the Lions Pick in the First Round?
2023 NFL Draft Bets, Predictions: Who Will the Lions Pick in the First Round?
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2023 NFL Draft Prediction
1.5u - Position of Lions 1st Draft Pick - Defensive Lineman (+175) Bet $150 to collect $412.50. FanDuel has the best odds, click here
As many of you know, I love my Detroit Lions. After countless seasons of watching a circus act on my television every Sunday, the team is finally well-run from top to bottom. I trust Brad Holmes as a fan; now it’s time to respect him with my cash too.
The betting favorite for Detroit seems to be cornerback. I see -140 odds which baffles me. Is it completely out of the realm of possibility that Detroit elects to go corner? Absolutely not. With that being said, it shouldn’t be the overwhelming favorite after they made key free-agent signings at that position. Detroit signed Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley and penned Chauncey Gardner Johnson to a one-year deal. Johnson will certainly play some nickel when he’s not lined up as a safety.
The Lions hold pick No. six in this year's upcoming draft. Ahead of them will likely be at least three quarterback selections. It’s no secret that the top two picks should be Stroud and Young, likely in that order. There’s a debate about who the third quarterback off the board will be. Likely the Colts will go quarterback with pick No. four. Both Richardson and Levis have parts of their game that have an upside; regardless, we want at least three quarterbacks to go ahead of us.
Arizona at No. three already has Kyler, so they will likely go with Will Anderson. He is perceived as the most talented defender in the draft. There is a chance that the Cardinals trade this pick to a quarterback-needy team, and also a chance that Detroit could trade up themselves to take Anderson. Arizona has a lot of needs on their team and could use more picks to fill out a roster.
If the Lions trade up for Anderson, we would cash. The more likely option is that they stay put at No. six and let either Jalen Carter or Tyree Wilson fall to them. Jalen Carter was once the top sought-after player in this draft. A bad combine where he looks overweight and some legal issues definitely didn’t help his case. He may be dropping down people's boards, but with what we’ve seen on tape, I can’t imagine him falling out of the top 10. As for Wilson, the guy is just a freak athlete who should be an instant plug-and-play talent.
We’ve said that Anderson, Wilson, and Carter would cash our bet, but what if Holmes elects to trade back? I see a world this is a possibility too, but then they go with Calijah Kancey or Bryan Bresee. Regardless if they move up, stay put, or move back, I think this bet is in play. I would say this is a 45/45 tossup between defensive linemen and corner, with a 5% chance of it being a backup QB or TE. +175 is great value here, and it’s enough for me to lay a unit and a half on it, let's roll!