Saquon Barkley is Odds-On Favorite to Go No. 1 in NFL Draft

No one knows who the Cleveland Browns will select with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft in April, but the smart money is on Penn State running back Saquon Barkley.

At least that’s according to Bovada, as the sportsbook has installed Barkley as the favorite to go No. 1 at +170. (That number means a $100 bet on Barkley would bring back a $170 payout).

Following Barkley in the odds to go first are a quartet of quarterbacks: USC’s Sam Darnold (+240), Wyoming’s Josh Allen (+400), Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield (+550) and UCLA’s Josh Rosen (+700).

Given those numbers, it’s more generally likely the Browns will pick a quarterback at No. 1, but, since there are four options, Barkley is the better bet to go first as there is only one of him.

Overall, Bovada is extremely confident the Browns will select one of those five players as they’ve set the odds of Cleveland drafting any player other than Barkley or the four quarterbacks first at +1500.

Therefore, if you want to risk $100 to make $1,500, take a chance on Cleveland taking defensive end Bradley Chubb out of NC State at No. 1 and throw a C-note on the field.

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Evan Bleier

Evan is a senior editor with InsideHook who earned a master’s degree in journalism from NYU and has called Brooklyn home since 2006. A fan of Boston sports, Nashville hot chicken and Kentucky bourbon, Evan has had his work published in publications including “Maxim,” Bleacher Report and “The Daily Mail.”