2022 NFL Draft: 2nd Overall Pick Odds and Predictions

The big question heading into the 2022 NFL draft, of course, is who will go No. 1? It looks like it’s a race among edge rushers with Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson, Georgia’s Travon Walker, and Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux.

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An offensive lineman might sneak in there, but after Jacksonville makes its selection the next question becomes who goes at No. 2?

The 2022 NFL Draft gets underway at 8:00 p.m., Thursday, April 28, at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, Nevada. Here are the second overall pick odds and predictions.

Off the Edge

Who goes No. 2 will depend upon which edge rusher goes first. The Jaguars are expected to take either Hutchinson or Walker with the first overall pick. Next up after Jacksonville is Detroit.

The Lions traded for QB Jared Goff last year and don’t appear to be looking at a quarterback in this class, which is not nearly as strong as last season.

One of the interesting stories to watch in the first two picks is if the Jags opt for Walker, Detroit could land Hutchinson, who played collegiately at Michigan and played his high school football at Dearborn Divine Child HS. Dearborn is a Detroit suburb.

Oddsmakers appear to favor that scenario with Hutchinson the favorite at +175 to go second. Walker is listed at +275. The wild card is Thibodeaux who is given +250 odds to go No. 2.

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Surprise QB?

We mentioned the weak quarterback class compared to last year. One quarterback continues to rise on everyone’s draft board. Liberty QB Malik Willis is given +600 odds to go No. 2.

His combine performances in the quarterback drills were outstanding. Scouts have been getting long looks at his powerful arm and they have long known about his ability to run the football.

Given his abilities, it still seems unlikely that Willis would go as high as No. 2 unless a team like Carolina would trade up to get him. There is a lot of talk that the Panthers are interested in Cleveland QB Baker Mayfield now that the Browns signed Deshaun Watson.

There are many that believe at least four quarterbacks will go in the first round. That is because of the value presented in rookie quarterback contracts because of the fifth-year option.

Trades

Defensive backs Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner (+1600) and Kyle Hamilton (+2200) are among the candidates on the board to go No. 2 overall. The problem is that currently Detroit is in need of an edge rusher more than a cornerback or safety.

It seems the only way a player like Gardner or Hamilton goes No. 2 is if a team – the New York Jets possibly – trades up and takes one of the two. The likelihood of that is near zero. Unless the Jags and Lions are playing some serious Jedi mind tricks, both are going to opt for an edge rusher.

At No. 3, Houston will take the remaining edge rusher or they will opt for an offensive lineman – either Ikem Ekwonu or Evan Neal. That leaves the Jets free to take Gardner at No. 4, which makes a trade-up unlikely.

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2022 NFL Draft 2nd Overall Selection Prediction

Walker continues to rise on some draft boards. Having played at national champion Georgia will be just enough to sway Jags defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell and defensive line coach Brentston Buckner to go with Walker. Both Caldwell and Buckner are southern guys who will lean on an SEC edge rusher.

That leaves the hometown boy available for the Detroit Lions. It would be a dream come true for Hutchinson. From high school in southeastern Michigan, to the Wolverines, and ultimately to the Lions. He will be a welcome addition to a defense that needs to improve.

PICK: AIDAN HUTCHINSON +175

Odds to Be Selected 2nd Overall in the 2022 NFL Draft

Aidan Hutchinson +175

Kayvon Thibodeaux +250

Travon Walker +275

Malik Willis +600

Ahmad Gardner +1600

Ikem Ekwonu +1800

Kyle Hamilton +2200

Evan Neal +2200

Find out who we’re betting on to be the 1st QB drafted 2022, 1st RB drafted 2022 and 1st WR drafted 2022.