Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire
Author: Anthony Vlahovic
Last Updated: 15 January, 2026
2026 NFL Draft Betting Odds
The 2025 NFL Draft generated considerable excitement among football fans and bettors, as Cam Ward was selected first overall, while Shedeur Sanders fell to the fifth round. While some of the members of the 2025 draft class are going through their first postseason, bettors can already start looking ahead to the 2026 draft class by placing futures on next season's #1 overall pick, which will belong to the Las Vegas Raiders.
A lot can happen between now and draft day, but we’ve got you covered with consistently up-to-date betting odds for the 2026 NFL Draft, with prices across all the elite sports betting apps available in the US.
2026 NFL Draft No. 1 Overall Pick (Best Odds)
Player | Opening odds | Current best odds |
|---|---|---|
Fernando Mendoza | N/A | -4000 (Bet365) |
Rueben Bain Jr. | N/A | +5000 (Bet365*) |
Arvell Reese | N/A | +5500 (FanDuel) |
Trinidad Chambliss | N/A | +7500 (Bet365*) |
Ty Simpson | N/A | +7500 (FanDuel*) |
Keldric Faulk | +2500 | +10,000 (FanDuel) |
Caleb Downs | N/A | +10,000 (Bet365*) |
Carson Beck | N/A | +10,000 (Bet365) |
Jordyn Tyson | N/A | +10,000 (FanDuel*) |
Cashius Howell | N/A | +12,500 (FanDuel) |
David Bailey | N/A | +12,500 (FanDuel) |
Peter Woods | N/A | +12,500 (FanDuel) |
Carnell Tate | N/A | +12,500 (Bet365*) |
T.J. Parker | +2500 | +12,500 (FanDuel) |
Kadyn Proctor | N/A | +15,000 (Bet365) |
Spencer Fano | N/A | +15,000 (Bet365) |
Odds as of January 15, 2026
* = The same odds are offered by multiple sportsbooks.
2026 NFL Draft First Pick Odds Comparison - TOP10 Favorites
Player | ||
|---|---|---|
Fernando Mendoza | -4000 | -7000 |
Rueben Bain Jr. | +5000 | +5000 |
Arvell Reese | +5000 | +5500 |
Trinidad Chambliss | +7500 | +7500 |
Keldric Faulk | +7500 | +10,000 |
Ty Simpson | +7500 | +7500 |
Cashius Howell | +10,000 | +12,500 |
Carson Beck | +10,000 | OTB |
Caleb Downs | +10,000 | +10,000 |
David Bailey | +10,000 | +12,500 |
Odds as of January 15, 2026
Current Favorites
Fernando Mendoza (Indiana): The last two #1 overall picks were transfer quarterbacks, and Mendoza has a chance to make that three. While he showed flashes of immense potential at Cal, Mendoza has taken it to another level at Indiana, earning him a Heisman Trophy. After winning the Big Ten Championship over Ohio State and dominating Alabama and Oregon on the way to the National Championship, the Hooisers' quarterback has thrown for 3,349 yards, 41 touchdowns, and just six interceptions. Between his good decision-making, poise, and the fact that Dante Moore is going back to college, Mendoza has separated himself as the heavy favorite to be the Raiders' new quarterback.
Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami): Depending on how things shake out at the top of the draft, regarding possible trades, there is a chance that a defensive player is selected first overall. If that is the case, Bain Jr. has a decent shot of being the one to hear his name called. In his career, Bain has recorded 113 tackles, 19.5 sacks, and forced four fumbles. Athleticism is one thing that jumps off the screen with the Miami defensive lineman, and after a dominant showing against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, concerns about his arm length seem less prevalent.
Arvell Reese (Ohio State): On the off chance the Raiders trade back, Arvell Reese is certainly a name that could come off the board exceptionally early. The Ohio State linebacker truly put it all together this past season, racking up 69 tackles and recording 6.5 sacks, after only recording .5 sacks in his first season with the Buckeyes. Reese's versatility is what truly sets him apart, as he can defend receivers as a true linebacker or act as a speed rusher to pressure the quarterback, making him a defensive coordinator's dream.
Past 1st Overall Picks In The NFL Draft & Odds
Season | Player | Team | Opening odds |
|---|---|---|---|
2025 | Cam Ward | Tennessee Titans | -700 |
2024 | Caleb Williams | Chicago Bears | -1250 |
2023 | Bryce Young | Carolina Panthers | -125 |
2022 | Travon Walker | Jacksonville Jaguars | +3000 |
2021 | Trevor Lawrence | Jacksonville Jaguars | -300 |
2020 | Joe Burrow | Cincinnati Bengals | +300 |
2019 | Kyler Murray | Arizona Cardinals | +160 |
2018 | Baker Mayfield | Cleveland Browns | +1000 |
2017 | Myles Garrett | Cleveland Browns | N/A |
2016 | Jared Goff | Los Angeles Rams | N/A |
2015 | Jameis Winston | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | N/A |
Drafting for Scheme Fit vs. Best Player Available: What to know before betting
Just as players and coaches on the field have tendencies, NFL front offices do too. For bettors, understanding these tendencies or a team's philosophy can help make draft season a profitable time. There is a lot of smoke and mirrors leading up to each draft, so understanding whether a team prefers to draft based on scheme fit or just take the best player available is very important.
When a team feels as if their championship window may be closing within the next few years, they may show a tendency to draft based on scheme so that they can plug and play their first-round pick. On the other hand, there could be teams that prefer to let the first round of the draft play out and adjust from there, such as the Philadelphia Eagles.
Understanding how teams make decisions is crucial in identifying value across multiple markets, such as determining the position a team will draft in the first round or identifying the first-round landing spots for different players. A team that has been having success over the past few seasons may have more freedom and willingness to reach on a player they may need, for example, the Chiefs went into the 2025 Draft needing offensive line help, and that is exactly what they addressed in the first round despite there being better players on the board from different positions.
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