Did the Philadelphia Eagles finally draft the “right” wide receiver? Immediate reaction from analysts and Eagles Twitter seems to think so.
The Eagles selected DeVonta Smith, the Alabama wide receiver and 2020 Heisman Trophy winner, during Thursday night’s 2021 NFL Draft. The Birds apparently coveted the speedy Smith enough to orchestrate a trade with division rivals Dallas Cowboys to move up two spots (from No. 12 to No. 10) to select Smith.
Cornerback Jaycee Horn (+250) was the favorite to be the Eagles first selected player. But the Carolina Panthers scooped him with the No. 8 pick. Smith (+350) had the next-best odds to land with the Birds.
For NFL draft bettors, the First Round presented many betting markets and player props. However, just because Round One is completed doesn’t mean the betting is done. There are still a number of betting options when it comes to the upcoming rounds of the draft and Pennsylvania online sportsbooks will continue posting new markets and shifting lines based on Eagles draft picks.
Philadelphia Eagles draft betting
With Horn and other Eagles’ target cornerback Patrick Surtain (+350) off the board, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman maneuvered a trade with the Cowboys. They swapped first round picks and Dallas got the Eagles’ third-round pick (84) in this year’s draft. The move put the Eagles ahead of the New York Giants who were rumored to want Smith at No. 11.
Smith led the NCAA in receptions (117), receiving yards (1,856), and receiving TDs (23) last season. However, concerns about his size (he’s 166 pounds) caused him to drop a bit. The addition of Smith gives second-year quarterback, and fellow Alabama alum Jalen Hurts a viable deep threat.
DraftKings Sportsbook gave PlayNJ a breakdown of the betting splits for who the Eagles would select first.
- 24%: Kwity Paye (+1400)
- 22%: Horn (+250)
- 17%: Jaylen Waddle (+500)
- 12%: Smith (+350)
Bettors obviously saw more value wagering on Paye. Also, there was a good amount of chatter during the days leading up to the draft that the Eagles “loved” him. As for Smith garnering only 12% of the handle, perhaps bettors didn’t think it was a good number combined with the fact that he could very well be off the board before No. 12.
“Smith to the Eagles” price was quite different at BetMGM Sportsbook. It opened with Smith +450 and closed at +700. The majority of the handle (70%) was on Smith to be selected “under” (before) 11.5.
Who will the Philadelphia Eagles draft in Round 2
The Eagles have the fifth pick in Round 2 of the NFL Draft that starts tonight at 7 p.m.
At some NJ sportsbooks you can bet on who will be the Eagles second player selected.
Here are the current odds at DraftKings:
- Cornerback: +140
- Linebacker: +300
- Offensive lineman: +500
- Safety: +600
- Defensive lineman: +700
- Tight end: +1600
- Wide receiver: +1600
- Quarterback: +2500
- Running back: +2500
- Kicker/punter/long snapper: +15000
Playing position of second player drafted: Offense (+200)/Defense (-265)
Philadelphia Eagles 2021 NFL Draft Picks
The Eagles have plenty of picks left to make. Expect more trades from Howie and Co.
- Round 1, pick 10 (from DAL) – DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
- Round 2, pick 37
- Round 3, pick 70
- Round 4, pick 123
- Round 5, pick 150
- Round 6, pick 189
- Round 6, pick 224
- Round 6, pick 225
- Round 7, pick 234
- Round 7, pick 240
Rounds 2-7 NFL draft betting
NFL draft bettors can choose from various markets at DraftKings including:
- Position of teams’ second player drafted
- Mr. Irrelevant position
- Round that the first special teams player is selected
- Which round will Kyle Trask, Kellen Mond, and Davis Mills be selected in
- First safety drafted
- First special teams player drafted
Betting on the NFL Draft in PA
Just a friendly reminder that betting on the NFL draft is not available at Pennsylvania online sportsbooks. However, draft betting is available at NJ sports betting apps.
Some PA sportsbooks like DraftKings do have free-to-play Draft Pools with real money up for grabs, so PA fans can get in on the action without leaving the state.
Super Bowl line movement
What a difference a day and a disgruntled franchise quarterback makes. Hours before the draft, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Green Bay Packers quarterback and reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers is “disgruntled” and “does not want to return to the team.”
Pro Football Talk revealed the trio of teams Rodgers reportedly wants to be traded to are the San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, and Las Vegas Raiders.
The news sent Super Bowl futures on the move.
Super Bowl odds movement from April 27 to April 30 via DraftKings:
- 49ers: +1600 to +1400
- Broncos: +6000 to +1600
- Raiders: +6000 to +5000
- Packers: +1100 to +1600
2021/2022 NFL Rookie of the Year betting
Faster than DeVonta Smith on a go route, PA online sportsbooks put up markets for NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year.
At BetMGM, the favorites for Offensive Rookie of the Year are first overall pick Trevor Lawrence (+225), Justin Fields (+350), and Zach Wilson (+550). DeVonta Smith has odds of +1400. However, he is +2000 at DraftKings.
Penn State’s Micah Parsons, who the Dallas Cowboys drafted at No. 12, is the favorite (+500) for Defensive Rookie of the Year at BetMGM. Still on the board after the first round, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is behind him at +800.
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