2024 NFL Draft Betting – AFC East 1st Drafted Positions at Caesars Sportsbook
April 23, 2024
Casino Betting Systems
April 23, 2024
The AFC North proved incredibly competitive last season, with the division sending three teams to the playoffs. Despite Lamar Jackson and the Ravens failing to parlay their top seeding into a Super Bowl trip, John Harbaugh’s squad enters the 2024-25 NFL season as the betting favorite to win the division for a second straight year. The race is expected to be another tight one, with the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers looming closer in the rearview mirror.
All AFC North teams except the Cleveland Browns currently have first draft position odds listed at Caesars Sportsbook. Let’s dig into the current positional odds offerings and see if we can’t fatten up the bankroll by projecting each team’s first positional selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Bet AFC North First Drafted Positions at Caesars Sportsbook
Baltimore Ravens First Drafted Position at Caesars Sportsbook:
- Offensive Lineman: -210
- Cornerback: +330
- Defensive Lineman or EDGE: +425
- Wide Receiver: +425
- Linebacker: +2500
- Safety: +5000
The Ravens showcased the league’s No. 1 ranked scoring defense last season, excelling in pass defense (#6) and leading the league in defensive takeaways (31) with 18 coming by way of the interception. With key pieces returning, GM Eric DeCosta may shy away from defensive help in the first round. Things could go sideways at the tail end of the first round before Baltimore walks up to the podium, so the +330 offering for the Ravens selecting a cornerback is juicy when taking into consideration the amount of time Marlon Humphrey has seemingly been forced to fend off the injury bug every season. Should a quality offensive lineman be made available to help open holes for their new punishing ground attack spearheaded by newcomer Derrick Henry, Baltimore will likely snatch him up. If not, a difference maker like Kool-Aid McKinstry might just find himself wearing the franchise’s black, purple, and metallic gold. With that, I’m taking a beer money flier on cornerback being the team’s first drafted position.
Cincinnati Bengals First Drafted Position at Caesars Sportsbook:
- Offensive Lineman: -150
- Defensive Lineman or EDGE: +250
- Wide Receiver: +550
- Tight End: +550
- Cornerback: +550
- Linebacker: +6000
Regardless of whether Tee Higgins ultimately lines up for the Bengals throughout the 2024-25 NFL betting season, there’s no way Cincy looks the way of a wide receiver in the first round with it having ample resources to move up to the front end of the second round should any viable pass catcher fall out of the first 32 picks. With that, I have no inclination of hitting wide receiver at +550 in any way, shape, or form. It’s offensive lineman or nothing in my opinion at pick No. 18! It’s criminal as to how bad Joe Burrow’s front wall has been throughout his 4-year professional playing career. He’s already only started 10 games twice in two of those seasons with the pathetic play of his front wall mostly attributable to his early demise. Cincinnati has averaged just over 49 sacks a season with Joey Brrr under center ranking out amongst the worst in the NFL all four seasons. It’s high time upper management prioritized No. 9’s protection which has me very bullish on only needing to lay -150 for a stud like JC Latham, Taliese Fuaga, or Graham Barton to protect his blindside for the foreseeable future should either fall to them.
Pittsburgh Steelers First Drafted Position at Caesars Sportsbook:
- Offensive Lineman: -325
- Wide Receiver: +425
- Cornerback: +425
- Defensive Lineman or EDGE: +900
- Safety: +7500
- Linebacker: +10000
Unless you live under a rock, you’re likely well aware of the streak Mike Tomlin has going in the Steel City where he hasn’t overlooked a losing Pittsburgh Steelers outfit since taking over the reins back in 2007. While I bet on that streak remaining intact last season by paying a juicy price to snag over 8.5-wins, the Black and Yellow was never a serious threat to win the Super Bowl regardless of punching a ticket to the second season for the third time in the last four seasons. Largely due to an impotent offense directly due to horrendous quarterback play, GM Omar Khan stirred the pot in the offseason bringing in both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in hopes of rectifying the situation. I’m not buying an offensive linemen being the decided favorite to hear his name called when the Steelers make their first round pick. Pittsburgh returns a unit that opened holes for the 13th ranked rushing attack and only conceded 36 sacks (#9). More pressing needs are found in the WR corps and in the secondary which means Brian Thomas Jr. or Nate Wiggins could just as easily hear their name called as Graham Barton or another hog. With that, I’m gonna gamble and throw some beer money fliers at both positions offering up that sweet +425 return!
Cleveland Browns
Due to sending a king’s ransom to Houston to acquire the services of Deshaun Watson, the Browns lack a first round pick to call their own in the 2024 NFL Draft. They have six overall selections with four set to go in rounds six and seven. Unless they trade up, Cleveland won’t make its first pick until the back end of round two at No. 54. That didn’t stop the front office from making some moves in the offseason adding Jerry Jeudy to the pass catching corps, and bringing in some much needed linebacker help in the forms of Jordan Hicks and Devin Bush. As such, the Browns aren’t showcased in any NFL Draft props at Caesars.
