The stars of tomorrow will be selected this upcoming Thursday at the 2022 NFL Draft in Las Vegas. One of the biggest highlights of the NFL offseason, the Draft features the biggest names in college football getting picked by the 32 NFL teams. One of the most-watched events on the NFL calendar, the Draft is a must-see event for any football fan. With that in mind, SBS has your back when it comes to this awesome showcase with our breakdown on some of the first-round prop bets below.
For these spotlights, SBS has you covered with some big over/under wagers and what our analysis looks like on how many players will be selected for each category. Read on below to see more!
| NFL Draft 2022 | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEF Players Drafted 1st Round | Over 15.5 | -160 | -160 | -160 |
| OFF Players Drafted 1st Round | Under 16.5 | -150 | -150 | -150 |
| Total QB's Selected 1st Round | Under 3.5 QB's | -280 | -280 | -280 |
In a draft that is pretty top-heavy when it comes to defensive players, this should be a fun category to watch on Thursday. Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson is regarded by ESPN as the top pick in the draft thanks to a highly-productive senior season for the Wolverines where he had 14 sacks in 2021. In terms of some other popular mock drafts, pundits have about five defensive players going in the top 10 and five more going in the second 10 picks. In fact, according to draft expert Mel Kiper Jr., there should be about 17 defensive players selected in the first round of the draft in his latest mock draft that came out on Monday.
Prediction: With this draft featuring a ton of different defensive talent at the top end like Hutchinson, Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Travon Walker from Georgia, there should be over 16 defensive players selected in the first round.
On the flip side of the coin, there are also a good amount of offensive players that could be selected near the top end of the draft. For instance, quarterback Malik Willis from Liberty is getting a lot of draft buzz as a hot pick for one of the teams in the top five, like the Jets or the Texans. Moreover, an offensive tackle like Ikem Ekwonu could get picked up fairly early on as well since he is regarded by some as the best tackle prospect in this draft out of NC State.
Another player to watch in the top 10 is wide receiver Garrett Wilson from Ohio State who could start for a couple of teams as their No. 1 target right away. However, given the depth of defensive talent in the first round, that could be the bigger focus on Thursday according to draft expert Todd McShay in his latest mock draft.
Prediction: With defense being a big focal point in this draft, the offense will be taking a back seat here. Choose the under for 16.5 offensive players chosen in the first round.
Our final spotlight section, there are a handful of dynamic quarterbacks that could start for a couple of teams in the league. As mentioned before, Willis is the favorite to get selected first by most teams with a quarterback need. After that, Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder and Pitt’s Kenny Pickett are the other two big prospects that would get picked up in the first round according to ESPN.
Prediction: With Ole Miss’ Matt Corral being on the first-round borderline, it is safe to say at least three quarterbacks will be selected in the first round. After that, it is less certain. Choose the under of 3.5 quarterbacks here.
The NFL Draft is a spectacular event and what better way to spice up the action than by placing some wagers? Before you get into that though, make sure to check in with SBS’ all-inclusive guide on NFL wagering. This will give you a large breakdown of NFL matchups when they are available along with awesome bonuses. Speaking of bonuses, SBS also has a great page that has a catalog of the finest bonus promotions. Finally, when wrapping up your picks, try to find the best site for you. For instance, checking out one of our online sportsbook reviews, like our breakdown of MyBookie, is always a great idea to have your ducks in a row.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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