Last year’s edge class is tough to follow up. While there’s no top-three prospect like Will Anderson, this year’s defensive line class offers value deeper down the list. UCLA’s Laiatu Latu, Florida State’s Jared Verse, and Alabama’s Dallas Turner lead the class of edge rushers. Two Texas products – T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy – quite literally anchor a strong interior defensive line group. Below, we’ll look at NFL Draft odds for defensive linemen, including edge rushers and interior players.
NFL draft odds: First DL drafted
Teams picking early in the first round in need of defensive line help include:
- Bears (No. 1, 9)
- Commanders (No. 2)
- Cardinals (No. 4, 27)
- Falcons (No. 8)
- Vikings (No. 11)
- Broncos (No. 12)
- Saints (No. 14)
- Rams (No. 19)
- Dolphins (No. 21)
- Texans (No. 23)
- Buccaneers (No. 26)
How to bet on first DL drafted
One of the most common NFL Draft prop wagers are those that involve betting on which player will be the first drafted at each position. To find these wagers in an online sportsbook, click the NFL tab to navigate toward the 2024 Draft section. Once there, click on “First Pick by Position” to view the odds.
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NFL Draft: 2024 DL Prospects
Prospects below are taken from Dane Brugler’s Top 50 prospects list.
- Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
- Byron Murphy, DL, Texas
- Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
- Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
- Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
- Darius Robinson, EDGE, Missouri
- T’Vondre Sweat, DL, Texas
NFL Draft DL History
Here is a list of the first DL taken in each NFL Draft going back to 2010.
| Year | Team | Player | College | Pick (No. overall) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Indianapolis | Laiatu Latu | UCLA | 15 |
| 2023 | Houston | Will Anderson | Alabama | 3 |
| 2022 | Jacksonville | Travon Walker | Georgia | 1 |
| 2021 | Miami | Jaelen Phillips | Miami | 18 |
| 2020 | Washington | Chase Young | Ohio State | 2 |
| 2019 | San Francisco | Nick Bosa | Ohio State | 2 |
| 2018 | Denver | Bradley Chubb | NC State | 5 |
| 2017 | Cleveland | Myles Garrett | Texas A&M | 1 |
| 2016 | San Diego | Joey Bosa | Ohio State | 6 |
| 2015 | NY Jets | Leonard Williams | USC | 3 |
| 2014 | Houson | Jadeveon Clowney | South Carolina | 1 |
| 2013 | Miami | Dion Jordan | Oregon | 3 |
| 2012 | Kansas City | Dontari Poe | Memphis | 11 |
| 2011 | Buffalo | Marcell Dareus | Alabama | 3 |
| 2010 | Detroit | Ndamukong Suh | Nebraska | 2 |
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NFL Draft odds, strategy and trends
Last year’s defensive line class was one of the strongest in recent draft cycles. That’s naturally followed up with a weaker top class, although interior defensive line run deep this year. Two pass rushers have been taken first overall since 2014: Myles Garett (2017, Browns) and Jadaveon Clowney (2014, Texans). In three of the last four drafts, pass rushers went top three just behind quarterbacks (Nick Bosa, Chase Young, Will Anderson).
With all three teams at the top of the draft in serious need of pass rushers, there’s no reason to think at least two won’t come off the board in the top three picks.