NFL Draft 2022: Who Will Be The No. 1 Pick? Alabama, Michigan Stars Favored

The 2022 NFL Draft is unique in a couple of different ways. There is no consensus No. 1 overall pick, and it’s extremely unlikely that a quarterback will be drafted first.

It’s a stark difference from recent drafts, which have usually started with potential franchise quarterbacks being picked. Trevor Lawrence was an easy pick for the Jacksonville Jaguars atop last year’s draft. In 2020, there was little debate that the Cincinnati Bengals would take Joe Burrow first overall. Kyler Murray was an easy choice at No. 1 for the Arizona Cardinals in 2019.

A quarterback has been picked atop the draft in four straight years and 10 of the last 13 years. That trend probably won’t continue when the first round of this year’s draft kicks off on April 28.

Who will be the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft? The betting odds suggest it will be an offensive lineman or an edge rusher.

Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal is favored to be the No. 1 pick with -115 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook. Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is second with +275 odds. NC State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu has the third-best odds to go first overall at +400. Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux is fourth with +1200 odds.

Neal was a five-star recruit and became a First-Team All-SEC selection in his final season with the Crimson Tide. The junior was also a consensus All-American for the 2021 season.

Neal helped protect Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, who won the 2021 Heisman Trophy. Hutchinson was the runner-up for the award, recording 14 sacks with two forced fumbles for the Wolverines.

Malik Willis has the best odds of any quarterback to be the No. 1 selection. Willis, who played at Liberty, is a long shot at +3500.

Jacksonville has the No. 1 pick for the second year in a row. Despite Lawrence’s struggles as a rookie, the Jaguars won’t consider picking a quarterback with their top selection. Given the uncertainty regarding Willis and Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett, there probably isn’t a scenario in which Jacksonville trades the top pick for a team that wants to select a quarterback.

The Detroit Lions own the No. 2 overall pick. The Houston Texans, New York Jets and New York Giants round out the top five.