Opening 2024 NFL Draft Odds Favor Caleb Williams at -550 as Number 1 Pick

By George Nassios in NFL Football
Published:

- USC quarterback Caleb Williams is a huge -550 opening-line favorite to be taken 1st overall in the opening 2024 NFL Draft odds
- Betting odds fall off dramatically after Williams, with UNC pivot Drake Maye next up at +600
- For all the possible contenders to be selected first and 2024 NFL Draft odds, read more below
With the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft behind us, there’s no better time than now to look forward to next year’s draft class with one player labeled as a can’t miss No. 1 pick. That would be reigning Heisman Trophy winner, USC’s quarterback Caleb Williams as the top favorite in the 2024 NFL Draft odds.
Expect quarterbacks to dominate the first few picks against next season, after three of the top four players selected in this year’s draft were QBs topped by first overall pick, Alabama’s Bryce Young.
2024 NFL Odds To Be Drafted 1st Overall
Player-Position (School) | Odds |
---|---|
Caleb Willams-QB (USC) | -550 |
Drake Maye-QB (North Carolina) | +600 |
Marvin Harrison Jr.-WR (Ohio State) | +2000 |
Joe Alt-OT (Notre Dame) | +2500 |
Olumuyiwa Fashanu-OT (Penn State) | +2500 |
Kool-Aid McKinstry-CB (Alabama) | +3000 |
Michael Hall Jr.-DT (Ohio State) | +3000 |
Dallas Turner-DE (Alabama) | +3500 |
Jared Verse-DE (Florida State) | +3500 |
K.J. Jefferson-QB (Arkansas) | +4000 |
Michael Penix Jr.-QB (Washington) | +5000 |
Quinn Ewers-QB (Texas) | +5000 |
Jayden Daniels-QB (LSU) | +6000 |
Shedeur Sanders-QB (Colorado) | +6000 |
Spencer Rattler-QB (South Carolina) | +6000 |
Grayson McCall-QB (Coastal Carolina) | +8000 |
J.J. McCarthy-QB (Michigan) | +8000 |
Emeka Egbuka-WR (Ohio State) | +8000 |
Bo Nix-QB (Oregon) | +8000 |
Jeremiah Trotter Jr.-LB (Clemson) | +10000 |
Jack Sawyer-DE (Ohio State) | +10000 |
J.T. Tuimoloau-DE (Ohio State) | +10000 |
Brock Bowers-TE (Georgia) | +10000 |
Currently, the highly touted Williams is a a huge betting favorite in the 2024 NFL Draft odds at -550 with North Carolina signal caller, Drake Maye garnering the next shortest odds at +600. Odds as of April 28th at DraftKings Sportsbook.
The first round of the 2024 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 25, 2023 in Detroit. Event festivities will be held around Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza and will once again be broadcast by ESPN.
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Caleb Williams Hands Down Favorite In 2024 NFL Draft Odds
How good is USC QB Caleb Williams? So good, that the overwhelming sentiment from scouts is that he would’ve been drafted first overall this season had he been eligible. The 2022 Heisman Trophy threw for 42 touchdowns and just five interceptions in his first season in Los Angeles.
Williams will joins a long list of Heisman Trophy winners who had a chance to repeat. Only Ohio State’s Archie Griffin, in 1974 and 1975, won the award multiple times. The track record of past winners indicates Williams’ odds of going back-to-back aren’t high, but he’s still widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft.
He is the definition of the prototypical modern day QB every team in the NFL is looking for. Standing 6’1 and weighing in at 215 with yet another season at the collegiate level to go, there isn’t much to critique.
Multiple NFL scouts and coaches reportedly believe Caleb Williams is “miles” ahead of any QB in this year’s NFL Draft.
Many scouts believe Williams is the “closest” a prospect has been to Patrick Mahomes since Mahomes was drafted.
Many coaches and evaluators believe Williams… pic.twitter.com/wmTc4ad9fh
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) April 26, 2023
Although Williams lost wideout Jordan Addison, who was selected 23rd overall by the Vikings, coach Lincoln Riley will make sure his quarterback has a ton of weapons once again. With an electrifying offense and improving defense behind the No. 8 recruiting class and one of the best transfer classes in the country, Williams and his squad will be a force to be reckoned with next year, which should only enhance his status.
Other Candidates To Go Number 1 In 2024 NFL Draft
It’s a huge falloff in the 2024 NFL Draft odds of who else may go first overall after Williams. The strongest challenger at the QB position is North Carolina’s Drake Maye.
Playing at a school known more for basketball, Maye is somewhat underrated, but caught the attention of scouts and general managers this past season. While he faded a bit down the stretch, his overall numbers were outstanding, completing 66.2% of his throws for 4,321 yards, 38 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
The curiosity for the QB grew so much during last season, that UNC coach Mack Brown said bigger programs were trying to convince Maye to transfer. This is all an indication of how big the spotlight will be on Maye in his final collegiate season.
For the shortest odds at a position other than the men taking the snaps, we look at Marvin Harrison Jr. who owns the third shortest odds to go first overall, next to the two aforementioned play callers. An electric wide receiver, the Buckeyes star is more than just a familiar name who has the talent in his bloodlines.
1. Marvin Harrison Jr. | Ohio State
📏 6’ 4” ⚖️ 205 lbs
Draft Eligible: 2024
Strengths:
âś… Size
âś… Route-Running
âś… HandsAnalysis:
He has the route-running ability of his father at 6'4". He is one of the best WR prospects to come out in years.pic.twitter.com/7AQji0nxNH— CFFguys (@CFFguys) April 28, 2023
He’s a 6’4, 205 pound weapon who makes separating look easy, and his ability to convert as a catcher is elite. Most feel he would’ve been a top five pick in this year’s draft which didn’t see a receiver go until his former teammate at Ohio State, Jaxon Smith-Njigba got chosen at number 24.
The true sophomore finished with the fourth-most receptions and yards in a single season by an Ohio State wide receiver. He also tied David Boston for the second-most receiving touchdowns (14) in a season throughout Ohio State’s illustrious history.
Best Bet To Go No. 1 In 2024 NFL Draft
Despite all of Harrison’s accomplishments and accolades, only two wide receivers, Irving Fryar and Keyshawn Johnson, have been selected first overall in the modern era. It’s a quarterback league and with the caliber of players available at the pivot, it’s a longshot for the Buckeyes receiver to go number one next year.
Although the odds of Williams going first overall at -550 aren’t really enticing, this is really a can’t miss bet. When asked for comparisons, the name most mentioned is Patrick Mahomes, so take that as food for thought.
The only way we see him not going first overall is if he suffers a devastating injury and there’s no way you should bet on that. Pick Williams to go number one in the 2024 NFL Draft before the odds get any shorter.
Pick: Caleb Williams, USC (-550)

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Sports Writer
George has had a lifelong love affair with sports and studying sports statistics since he was a kid. He graduated from Ryerson University with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and has worked in the sports & media industry ever since in various roles from writer to producer.