Geoff Schwartz breaks down the top three picks of the NFL Draft. Read why he's laying his money on Drake Maye to be selected third overall, despite rumors of him dropping down the board.
The NFL Combine has come and gone, but the hype from the week-long event is carrying over into mock drafts and impacting NFL Draft betting odds. Player workouts and how well they tested, combined with the rumors that have emerged from closed-door meetings, have caused the odds to shift.
With all this new information, I’m going to explore some wagers that I’d sprinkle a couple of bucks on this week. Let's dive into the fun. Drake Maye +170 to go No. 3 in the draft USC quarterback Caleb Williams is going first overall to the Bears. I feel comfortable saying that the Bears are going in that direction. Williams is the best quarterback in this draft, with his special arm talent and play-making ability. The Bears still need to verify his medicals after Williams skipped the medical physical at the combine, but I doubt that poses any roadblock. If you don't believe me, here's a good nugget from my guy Sammy P who recently spoke to Westgate SuperBook executive director John Murray. 'Caleb Williams could own Chicago,' Murray foreshadowed. 'There’s nothing more important than hitting on the right quarterback. Teams mortgage tons of draft capital just to shoot their shot. Look what Denver did to get Russell Wilson. Look what Washington sacrificed to get Robert Griffin III all those years ago. Teams think it’s worth it to go all in for the right guy. 'Meanwhile, the Bears are just sitting there with the first overall pick, and they can just take Williams. They don’t have to mortgage the future to get it done. And if he becomes who I think he’s going to be down the road, we’re in for years of Bears-Packers games that’ll be monstrous for business.' With the No. 1 pick out of the way, let's turn our attention to who will go second and third in the draft. The second pick is held by the Washington Commanders, and they absolutely need a quarterback. I don't see them not drafting one. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised at all if Washington traded up to No. 1 for Williams. He's a native of D.C., and he's an athlete that new owner Josh Harris would love to have on the roster. Acquiring Caleb would be a good first splash for Harris as the new Commanders owner. The most likely outcome, though, is that Washington is choosing between North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye and the LSU signal-caller Jayden Daniels, college football's 2023 Heisman winner. While most experts' mock drafts seem split on — or even lean toward — Maye with this pick, I disagree with that assumption. Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has been successful with Patrick Mahomes playing quarterback at Texas Tech and Kyler Murray with the Arizona Cardinals. While Kingsbury doesn’t control who the Commanders will draft, I’d imagine he has input on the pick. And with that in mind, Daniels fits the QB profile that has brought Kingsbury success. Daniels' ability to improvise off platform is just what the Commanders need in their offense. He sees the field well and does an outstanding job of understanding where to go with the ball and delivering the ball accurately. I don’t see Washington passing up on Daniels to draft Maye. So that leaves Maye to the Patriots or whoever else wants the third pick. Maye’s potential is great, but he needs to clean up some of his game. He’s inconsistent with his throwing platform and sometimes, he gets thrown off his game when his first read isn’t there. However, Maye has got some electricity to his game that’s undeniable and the potential — with some refinement — to be an elite player at this position. I don't see the Patriots passing up the potential of Maye to draft a wide receiver or an offensive lineman. I do believe a trade down would be possible if the Patriots determine drafting Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr. in Round 2 is possible. But, the team trading up to No. 3 would be doing it for Maye. Rumors are swirling right now that the North Carolina QB is dropping down the board, but I'm not buying that. Maye gets drafted third overall. Book it. PICK: Drake Maye to go No. 3 overall in NFL Draft One note regarding betting on the draft. These numbers do move wildly at times without warning. Take, for example, Daniels. At some books, he was 22-to-1 to be the first pick in the draft. After the Combine, that number now sits at 7-to-1 at some places. So, remember to shop around and grab the best number possible throughout this process. Geoff Schwartz is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports. He played eight seasons in the NFL for five different teams. He started at right tackle for the University of Oregon for three seasons and was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection his senior year. Follow him on Twitter @GeoffSchwartz.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
2024 NFL mock draft: Field Yates' Round 1 pick predictionsFive quarterbacks in Round 1? Six first-round cornerbacks? A run on linemen? Field Yates projects the 2024 draft's opening 32 picks.
Read more »
Columbus Police Issue Plea for Missing Child's Safe ReturnColumbus police are searching for Pammy Maye and Darnell Taylor, who were reported missing. Maye is accused of kidnapping the child and has been charged with endangering children. The police found Maye's Jeep in a Cleveland suburb, but the two individuals have not been located. The police chief issued a plea for Maye to contact them and ensure the child's safety.
Read more »
NFL.com mock draft has Seahawks landing Michael Penix Jr in Round 2The Seahawks gain a second-round pick that they lost in the Leonard Williams trade, then use it on the Heisman Trophy runner-up.
Read more »
Drake’s AI clone is here — and Drake might not be able to stop himMajor record labels, including Universal Music Group, claim AI-generated songs featuring artists like Drake and The Weeknd infringe on their copyright. The legal argument is much messier.
Read more »
'Bear Bets': The Group Chat's thoughts on the NFL Draft, NFL offseasonThe Group Chat delivers its thoughts on the NFL Draft and offseason following last week's NFL Combine.
Read more »
2024 NFL Mock Draft Version 2: Williams, Harrison Jr. Team Up?2024 NFL Mock Draft. Full first-round mock for the 2024 NFL Draft, including top prospects Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Marvin Harrison Jr.
Read more »