The first round of the 2024 NFL Draft is supposed to be laden with offensive players. In fact, some believe it might set a record for most offensive players taken. The current record is 19, which has happened three times, most recently in 2009.
Still, there are a number of talented defensive players who will come off the board early.
But which will be first?
That’s very much up in the air, but three players have the best odds: Dallas Turner, Byron Murphy II and Laiatu Latu.
Turner is the favorite, as he’s the only one with juice. The Alabama linebacker was a consensus All-American a year ago as well as the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. Meanwhile, Murphy is considered the top defensive tackle in the draft after starring at Texas, while Latu was a unanimous All-American at UCLA last season after flourishing at defensive end.
Here are the most recent odds for the first defensive player drafted, according to DraftKings.
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Dallas Turner | -160 |
| Byron Murphy II | +170 |
| Laiatu Latu | +295 |
| Jared Verse | +1400 |
| Quinyon Mitchell | +1500 |
| Terrion Arnold | +1800 |
| Jer'Zhan Newton | +7500 |
| Cooper DeJean | +7500 |
