Quarterbacks in spotlight on 2021 NFL Draft odds

Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields. (Paul Vernon/AP)

Following a stellar three-year collegiate career at Clemson, quarterback Trevor Lawrence has emerged as a massive favourite to be selected first overall in the 2021 NFL Draft on Thursday night. He's set at -10000 on the NFL Draft odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.

The reigning ACC Player of the Year, Lawrence led the Tigers to the College Football Playoff in each of his three seasons, including a national championship win in 2019. The 21-year-old is expected to be the first of several quarterbacks to go early if, as expected, he is picked first overall by the offensively-challenged Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night in Cleveland.

While Zach Wilson is set as a distant +1200 bet to go first overall at sports betting sites, the BYU Cougars pivot is listed as a -2000 favourite to hear his name called when the New York Jets step up to the podium to make the second overall selection on Thursday night.

Wilson is coming off breakthrough 2020 campaign with the Cougars, connecting on 33 touchdowns against just three picks over 12 appearances. With the Jets creating an opening under centre by dealing Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers earlier in the offseason, two other quarterbacks follow Wilson on the odds to be taken second, with Justin Fields lagging as a +650 wager, well ahead of Trey Lance at +2000.

The Niners have cast doubt over Jimmy Garoppolo's future with the team after acquiring the third overall pick in a deal with the Miami Dolphins. After leading the Ohio State Buckeyes to a national championship earlier this year, Fields sits as +105 chalk to be taken third, just ahead of Alabama passer Mac Jones at +110, while Lance is listed at +300. Overall, the odds of OVER 4.5 pivots being drafted in the first round sit as a short -600 wager.

Offence is expected to be a high priority throughout Thursday night's first round, with -120 odds favouring over 18.5 offensive players getting selected. In addition to the lengthy list of passing prospects, there is no shortage of receiving talent in this year's draft class, with Ja'Marr Chase of the LSU Tigers listed as a -1000 wager to be the first receiver picked.

Wide receivers were popular a year ago, with six going in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. That trend is expected to continue this time around, with -350 odds favouring OVER 4.5 wide receivers getting taken in the first round this year.

Backfield upgrades, however, are expected to be less of a priority on Thursday night. Crimson Tide rusher Najee Harris is a strong -180 wager to be the first running back picked in this year's NFL Draft, but the OVER/UNDER for running backs drafted in the first round is listed at just 0.5 with the OVER at -300 and the UNDER at +200 for Thursday night's proceedings.

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