With the NFL Draft order finalized and the Scouting Combine underway, team executives are closely evaluating top prospects. The odds for the number one overall pick are already seeing significant movement.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, has seen his odds to be the top selection surge dramatically, making him the strong favorite to become the Las Vegas Raiders' new signal-caller. Historically, the quarterback position dominates the first pick, accounting for 21 of the last 28 selections.
Sportsbooks post futures odds for the draft immediately after the previous year's event, with lines fluctuating based on college performance, team needs of the NFL's worst clubs, and key pre-draft events like the Combine. Bettors can find both plus-odds (+), offering a potential profit on a smaller stake, and minus-odds (-), requiring a larger wager to win a smaller amount, as the draft approaches and a consensus forms.