One of the best ways to ascertain what might happen in the 2024 NFL draft is to look at the odds for the players and where they are projected to come off the board this week in Detroit.
At FanDuel Sportsbook, the updated prop bet lines for player draft slots reflect a couple of interesting notes in the range where the Lions select. The prop bets choose the over/under on the draft slot where the prospect will be selected.
Many of the props are for players who will be long gone by the time the Lions go on the clock at No. 29 overall. However, two specific lines stand out as pertinent for the Lions.
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Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton is almost never projected to be available for the Lions in mock draft simulators. He’s a top-10 overall prospect on several draft boards. Yet the current over/under line for Newton’s draft slot (as of 5 a.m. on April 22nd) is 31.5.
Betting the under—meaning Newton gets drafted before 31.5—comes with a pay line of -205, which indicates the book believes that’s how it plays out. It’s still surprising to see Newton listed so late. A foot injury likely factors into Newton’s later-than-expected range.
Lions drinking the Kool-Aid?
Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry is one of the most-projected players to the Lions at No. 29 nad has been for months. The projected pairing appears rooted in reality, at least as far as the FanDuel line shows.
McKinstry’s over/under line is 29.5. Essentially, an “over” bet indicates that the Lions pass on McKinstry. A narrow line indicates the book doesn’t have a strong lean either way. Whether it’s uncertainty over McKinstry’s injured foot, which prevented him from completing postseason testing, or cloudy outlooks on what the Lions will do, that’s a tantalizing line for prospectors hoping to cash in on the draft.
One other thing to keep in mind: the line is set on the player and the slot, not the player and the team. Given GM Brad Holmes’ affinity for trading in the first round, those lines could be irrelevant for Lions purposes, too.