NFL Draft bets: NFC South betting odds for each team's first pick

Position of 1st Drafted Player: NFC South edition

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The favorites:

• Defensive Line/EDGE (+130)
• Offensive Lineman (+225)
• Cornerback (+300)

The defending division champs won a playoff game this past season and brought back Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield in free agency to run back the offense that helped them take the NFC South in 2023.

Based on what we are seeing from various Buccaneers blogs and beat reporters, the two clear areas of need seem to be in the trenches, followed closely by corner. That is reflected here in the betting odds.

Tampa Bay is in a tough spot in the draft where the best edge rushers may be off the board, and a run of OL also could have the Bucs in an awkward position.

In such a scenario, we like the price on corner here, especially after the team recently traded starting CB Carlton Davis to Detroit.

Players like Cooper DeJean and Kool-Aid McKinstry could be available at pick No. 26 and make a lot of sense in Tampa Bay.

We don't hate splitting your bet in two, loading up both corner and OL.  
Our choice: Cornerback (+300)

Carolina Panthers

The favorites:

• Wide Receiver (+100)
• Defensive Line/EDGE (+330)
• Cornerback (+350)

The poor Panthers do not have a first-round pick this year, which as you likely know belongs to the Chicago Bears and is the first overall selection. That means, that unless Carolina moves up, their first pick is slated to kick off the second round (No. 33 overall).

We understand why wide receiver is the favorite here at +100, the only way to find out if Bryce Young can be "the guy" is to give him as much help as he can possibly get. Carolina did sign Diontae Johnston this offseason and still has Adam Thielen as a solid if unspectacular WR2. They also spent a second round pick on Jonathan Mingo last season.

We say that not to proclaim that the Panthers WR room is saved, but simply, they may opt for a different first pick, and we too want to find us some better odds to back in this market.

We're leaning defensive line as the bet worth making. The trade of Brian Burns opens up a hole here, and Carolina needs to invest in their trenches and realize they are a few years away from seriously competing again. They spent a lot of money on the OL this free agency, and now they use one of their first picks to start strengthening the defensive side of the equation.

Our choice: Defensive Line/EDGE (+330)

Atlanta Falcons

The favorites:

• Defensive Line/EDGE (-250)
• Cornerback (+300)
• Offensive Lineman (+700)

The theme of the next two teams here in the NFC South is that the picks seem obvious, and the odds are in turn not the value you'd want on a futures bet.

Nearly every mock draft you can find will have Atlanta taking Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner with the No. 8 selection in this April's draft. After three straight seasons going toward offensive playmakers in the first round, it seems to finally be time for the Falcons to turn to the defensive side of the football.

The addition of Kirk Cousins this offseason makes Atlanta the favorite to win the division, and his playmakers of Drake London, Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts make the Falcons a potentially very fun team.

Their new coach is defensive-minded, that being Raheem Morris, which is why so many are rightly predicting a move to the defensive line at the top of their draft board this year.

Factor in that the Falcons have been quiet on the defensive front during free agency, and unfortunately, the only bet we see is the one that is so heavily favored to be the case.
 
Our choice: Defensive line/EDGE (-250)

New Orleans Saints

The favorites:

• Offensive Lineman (-200)
• Defensive Line/EDGE (+300)
• Wide Receiver (+800)

There seems to be no doubt what direction the New Orleans Saints are going with their No. 14 pick in this year's draft: Offensive line.

Concerning news came out last week surrounding starting tackle's Ryan Ramcyzk's knee injury, and there's a growing fear that he may not be able to play this season following surgery. A quick look around at Saints reporters seems to suggest that report is the nail in the coffin in New Orleans' draft plans.

The team badly needs OL reinforcements, and 14th overall appears to be the sweet spot to grab one of the top tackle prospects this year.

We're not recommending you take this bet at this price, but it's seeming like the only choice we can push forward at this time.

Our choice: Offensive lineman (-200)