text: NJ Sportsbooks Dive Into NFL Draft Props Ahead Of Scouting Combine
  NFL Draft Odds: Sportsbooks Expect Kyler Murray To Land In Miami
  Posted By Juan Carlos Blanco on February 25, 2019 - Last Updated on October 16, 2019
  Although the NFL railed against legalized sports betting for what seemed like forever, top executives in each of its franchises have enthusiastically engaged in a form of high-stakes, league-sanctioned gambling every spring for decades.
  More commonly known as the NFL Draft, the late-April ritual sees multiple higher-ups in each organization put the fortunes of both their teams and their reputations as talent evaluators on the line each year with the players they deem worthy of selecting from college football's ranks.
  NJ sportsbooks taking NFL Draft bets for first time
  Given that it's long been a televised extravaganza during a time of year where the average football fan is jonesing for some NFL-related excitement, it's no surprise the draft has also progressively turned into a betting event for the public. In prior years, Nevada sportsbooks were the place to go for any legalized wagering on the yearly player lottery.
  Naturally, the options have expanded significantly ahead of the 2019 edition of the draft. Some New Jersey operators — DraftKings Sportsbook, BetStars, 888 Sport and PointsBet — have jumped on board to varying degree.
  BetStars is currently the leader in the clubhouse when it comes to sheer volume of offerings. PointsBet, which just announced a marketing partnership with Topgolf in the state, is a close second for the moment.
  Meanwhile, both 888 Sport and DK Sportsbook are playing things close to the vest at this point. Their currently available props center on arguably the most recognizable name in this year's draft overall — Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Kyler Murray.
  Murray's draft presence driving plenty of betting options
  Murray's recent announcement that he'd forgo a professional baseball career with the Oakland Athletics to pursue football was a boon to the general interest level for this year's draft. The 2018 Heisman Trophy winner brings some much-needed star power into the first round after racking up a whopping 5,362 total scrimmage yards (4,361 passing, 1,001 rushing) and 54 total touchdowns (42 passing, 12 rushing) in his just-completed junior season.
  While the props selections and odds naturally differ from sportsbook to sportsbook, there seems to be consensus in one particular area: the quarterback- and excitement-starved Miami Dolphins, which are believed ready to move on from Ryan Tannehill, are the likeliest landing spot for Murray.
  Prior to Murray's announcement, the top of the draft was poised to be headlined by defense. While OSU's Nick Bosa, Kentucky's Josh Allen and Alabama's Quinnen Williams are undeniably blue-chip prospects and make plenty of noise terrorizing quarterbacks, nothing gets buzz going like the signal-callers themselves.
  On that note, Bosa's teammate Dwayne Haskins, who's shot up draft boards after a 50-touchdown sophomore campaign, is also a first-round luminary. Accordingly, he's also drawing some draft-prop love as part of the aforementioned voluminous selection of wagers at BetStars.
  A closer look at some of the sportsbook's various draft-based offerings:
  Team to draft Kyler Murray:
  Miami Dolphins: +175
  Arizona Cardinals: +333
  Oakland Raiders: +450
  NY Giants: +500
  Jacksonville Jaguars: +600
  Kyler Murray Draft Position:
  Under 8.5: -150
  Over 8.5: +115
  Team to draft Dwayne Haskins:
  NY Giants: +200
  Washington Redskins: +450
  Oakland Raiders: +550
  Jacksonville Jaguars: +650
  1st QB drafted:
  Haskins: -175
  Murray: +165
  As mentioned earlier, PointsBet is already offering a solid menu of draft props as well. The operator even has a "Name A Bet" section that offers some options beyond the more conventional and encompass multiple possible first-round scenarios:
  Nick Bosa: -200
  Quinnen Williams: +350
  Kyler Murray: +450
  Ed Oliver: +1400
  Miami Dolphins: +250
  NY Giants: +750
  Name a Bet:
  First RB selected from Alabama: -501
  Giants to draft 1st round QB: -275
  Kyler Murray drafted top 8: -200
  Nick Bosa and Quinnen Williams first two players picked: -167
  Giants, Jags, Dolphins to all draft QB in 1st round: +100
  Kyler Murray as first overall pick: +550
  Notably, DK and 888 Sport both currently check in with matching betting options and odds on both Murray's possible draft position and the top five teams most likely to draft the dynamic quarterback. With the draft still over two months away, there naturally could be plenty of other props added by both operators, as well as others in the state.
  Over 6.5: -139
  Under 6.5: +105
  Jacksonville Jaguars: +400
  Oakland Raiders: +500
  NY Giants: +700
  FanDuel still in wait-and-see mode?
  FanDuel Sportsbook is one major New Jersey sportsbook that's yet to offer any NFL draft odds. The operator does have NFL futures bets in the form of the next year's Super Bowl winner, as well as conference champions for the 2019 season.
  A request for further clarification on whether the company will eventually offer NFL draft odds is pending a final response as of this writing. However, based on how wagering options have unfolded in New Jersey thus far during the state's brief history with legalized sports betting, it would appear likely we'll eventually see FD follow suit to some degree.