Alabama and LSU are the past two SEC and national champions. Thus, it comes as no surprise that they boast the top three receiving prospects with the NFL Draft odds. Alabama’s DeVonta Smith was the 2020 Heisman Trophy winner. Yet, he’s not favored to be the first receiver taken in the draft. Instead, it’s LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase that is preferred with the NFL Draft lines. Chase’s 2019 dominance for national champion LSU is not forgotten. Also factoring high is DeVonta Smith’s Crimson Tide teammate Jaylen Waddle. Accordingly, strong cases can be made for each.
2021 NFL Draft – First Receiver Taken
| Date and Time: | Thursday, April 29, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Location: | Cleveland, Ohio |
| 2021 NFL Draft TV Coverage: | ESPN |
2021 NFL Draft Odds at SBG
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Ja’Marr Chase | -400 |
| DeVonta Smith | -500 |
| Jaylen Waddle | -500 |
| Rashod Bateman | +3000 |
| Terrace Marshall Jr | +4000 |
| Rondale Moore | +5000 |
| Kadarius Toney | +6600 |
2021 NFL Draft First Receiver Taken SBG Odds Overview
Specifically, at wide receiver, we have three realistic sports betting options. Ja’Marr Chase, DeVonta Smith, and Jaylen Waddle are all going in round one. Casual fans aren’t familiar with Chase. Cause by his opting out of the 2020 college football season. Smith’s 2020 Heisman Trophy makes him understandable chalk. And then Waddle may offer the best value.
Ja’Marr Chase – LSU Tigers -400
Accordingly, Ja’Marr Chase is ranked equally with DeVonta Smith. Wise Guys recall the way Chase dominated the 2019 campaign. Chase caught 84 passes for 1780 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2019 and averaged 21.2 yards per catch. As a result, Chase was the 2019 Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation’s top receiver. In LSU’s national championship game win, Chase caught nine passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns. His opting out of 2020 worries some NFL teams. But everything seems to trip out scouts and coaches.
DeVonta Smith – Alabama Crimson Tide -500
First among many NFL Draft scout’s charts is DeVonta Smith. Smith’s performance in the 2020 college football campaign was one of the greatest in history. He was the 2020 Heisman Trophy winner. Furthermore, he won such awards as the Maxwell, Walter Camp, Paul Horning, AP Player of the Year, and Sporting News Player of the Year. Smith caught an eye-popping 117 passes for 1856 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2020. Of major concern is Smith’s comparatively frail build.
Jaylen Waddle – Alabama Crimson Tide – +500
Another Alabama receiver, Jaylen Waddle, could be the shocker in the 2021 NFL Draft. More than a few scouts have Waddle ranked higher than Smith. In the 2020 campaign, Waddle only played six games. However, his 21.1 yards per catch caught attention. No receiver matches Waddle’s ability to break games wide open. Consider 11 of his 20 career touchdown passes were for over 50 yards. Waddle’s speed scares opposition defense.
2021 NFL Draft First Receiver Taken Odds SBG Free Picks
Chase, Smith, and Waddle are the only 2021 NFL Draft betting choices to handicap. No other receivers are in their class. Due to his speed does Waddle rate the best wagering selection. It is true that had he not missed games in 2020, he may have been the top-ranked receiver for this draft. Waddle brings a better price and the ultimate bombing ability.
2021 NFL Draft First Receiver Taken SBG Best Bet: Jaylen Waddle.