The intrigue surrounding the No. 3 pick in Thursday's NFL Draft hasn't slowed down, while other betting markets have started to pick up.
There are just two days left of mock drafts, press conferences and sources leading up to the first round. The dissecting is almost over.
Almost.
There's no stopping the debate between Mac Jones, Trey Lance and Justin Fields for the No. 3 overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers. General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan held a press conference, which did nothing to quell any of the rumors.
"I can't guarantee that anybody in the world will be alive on Sunday."
Kyle Shanahan on if Jimmy G will still be on roster after the NFL Draft:
pic.twitter.com/y2gFlyfNqX— The Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) April 26, 2021
So, with no answers and plenty of speculation, bettors are coming at the 49ers pick from all angles. According to data released by BetMGM, which player goes No. 3 is the most-bet prop bet offered at the sportsbook and all three quarterbacks are getting similar action.
The majority of the bets placed (33%) are on the 49ers taking Trey Lance, but most of the money is on Jones (47%). Bettors aren't giving up on Fields, though, as he's taken 30% of bets and 28% of the total handle.
Money has come in at different points in time, as the odds have fluctuated throughout the pre-draft process, which Samantha Previte shows here.
As for the other top quarterbacks in the draft, Trevor Lawrence is getting 97% of the money wagered to go No. 1 to the Jaguars. The handle percentage for Zach Wilson to go second overall is 74% compared to just 15% of the bets. While a discrepancy between handle and bets can sometimes signal a pros vs. Joes situation, Wilson's steep price (-2500) to go No. 2 overall is likely the biggest factor in the difference.
It's not all about quarterbacks, though.
First Running Back Drafted is the second-most popular prop bet at BetMGM. Najee Harris is the -200 betting favorite, followed by Travis Etienne (+165). Harris is getting 48% of bets to be the first back off the board, followed closely by Eitenne at 43 percent.
The first defensive player taken is also a popular bet, with cornerback Patrick Surtain II the -145 favorite ahead of fellow corner Jaycee Horn at +300 and linebacker Micah Parsons (+400). Surtain II has 52% of the total handle.
