2021 NFL Draft, First Pick - Predictions & Betting Odds

With the 2020 NFL Draft now officially behind us, the oddsmakers wasted no time trying to predict who the next batch of NFL superstars will be in the 2021 draft class, and some of these names being listed have already become “household.”

Anyone who follows college football has heard of Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the tall, blond, long-haired superstar with a high football IQ who already seems ready to play in the NFL, and the same goes for Oregon’s talented tackle Penei Sewell and Alabama’s star rusher Najee Harris.

It’s never to early to put a bet down on a future superstar, and we take a look at a handful of them here as we list the predictions and odds of several “first pick” categories for the 2021 NFL Draft.

Good luck!

Odds taken on July 7 from DraftKings.

If you want to find out more about DraftKings, like bonuses, how to open an account, pros/cons, and more, check out our DraftKings in-depth review.

Keep in mind the odds in these wagers will shift plenty of times before the actual games are played, so be sure to check back here often to get all the latest numbers.

If you’re interested in wagering on the NFL then you’ll need some practice. Check out the free-to-play WSN Pick’em Contest to hone your prediction skills. It’s completely free and going on every week of the NFL season, play for a chance to win $200 in Amazon vouchers. Good luck!

NFL Draft 2021 – First Overall Pick

Pick:  Trevor Lawrence, Clemson

There is absolutely no reason to bet against Trevor Lawrence as the first overall pick unless he somehow is unable to play due to injury, the reason being the kid is an incredible football player destined for greatness in the NFL.

Look at his numbers – last year Lawrence completed 268-of-407 passes for 3,665 yards and 36 touchdowns for a completion percentage of 65.8 and a passer rating of 166.7, and that’s as a sophomore.

Then, when you look at his size – 6’6” and 220 pounds – plus his accurate throwing arm and ability to pass on the run, Lawrence checks all the boxes for NFL quarterback and with another great Clemson season in 2020, he should easily be the number one overall pick in 2021.

NFL Draft 2021 – First Quarterback Selected

Pick:  Trevor Lawrence, Clemson

The reasons for picking Trevor Lawrence as the first quarterback selected are the same as why he should get the first overall pick, his ability, size, and leadership all making him the perfect athlete to lead an NFL team from under center.

Next in line is Justin Fields, who also just completed his sophomore season last year and completed 238-of-354 for 3,273 yards and 41 touchdowns for a completion percentage of 67.2 and a passer rating of 181.4.

Fields is also a great size for the NFL at 6’3” and 223 pounds, so his stock could rise if for some reason his 2020 season is better than Lawrence’s, and how well each of their teams does could also dictate which of these two tremendous quarterbacks will go first in 2021.

NFL Draft 2021 – First Offensive Line

Pick:  Penei Sewell, Oregon

The talented tackle from Oregon, Penei Sewell, looks to be the offensive lineman who is the overwhelming favorite to be selected first, and he’s also got the third-best odds for being drafted first overall (see above), which would truly depend on the needs of whichever team gets that pick.

Watching film of the 19-year old Sewell is exciting, the tackle seems to be all over the field taking down two rushers at a time, able to climb easily to the 2nd and 3rd level, rarely fooled by stunts and twists.

Alabama’s Alex Leatherwood is the other tackle to watch – a converted guard, he almost declared himself eligible for the 2020 draft but decided to return for his senior season, a move that could help him to solidify a high first-round selection.

NFL Draft 2021 – First Wide Receiver Selected

Pick:  Ja’Marr Chase, LSU

At 6’1” and 200 pounds, Ja’Marr Chase looks like an NFL wide receiver, and he catches like one, too, last season with 84 grabs for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns, his longest reception a 78-yard beauty.

Chase, who is 20 years old, is a junior this season coming off a College Football Playoff National Championship with LSU, so he has all the clout and this first pick honor is basically his to lose, though it’s doubtful he will phone in his 2020 knowing what’s on the line for his future.

DeVonta Smith was part of the Alabama team that won the 2018 CFP National Championship – in fact, he caught the game-winning touchdown reception in overtime to give Alabama a 26-23 win – so he is not much of an underdog as far as being the first wide receiver picked goes.

NFL Draft 2021 – First Running Back Selected

Pick:  Travis Etienne, Clemson

Tough not to pick the favorites in any of these categories, but especially for the first overall running back selected in the 2021 draft, since Clemson senior rusher Travis Etienne’s stats are so clearly superior to the others on the list.

For the last two seasons, Etienne has rushed for 1,600+ yards in each, with 19 rushing touchdowns in 2019 and 24 TDs the year before, averaging almost 8 yards per carry for those two seasons.

Alabama’s Najee Harris is also excellent – last season he ran the ball 209 times for 1,224 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging 5.9 yards per carry, but unless he has an incredible 2020 and Etienne’s performance drops, expect Harris to be the second at his position selected in 2021.