Ricky Dimon
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The 2022 NFL Draft is less than a week away (it begins on Thursday night). Things could get crazy in Las Vegas (as they have been known to do on occasion!), as there is no clear-cut favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick. Even the position battles are extremely intriguing, potentially going in any number of directions near the top of the draft.
One of the more interesting cases is that of Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal. It’s not entirely out of the question that Neal goes No. 1 overall, but he could also drop all the way out of the top 10. More than likely he will be off the board somewhere in the 4-7 range.
Let’s take a look at what may be in store for Neal on Thursday night.
2022 NFL Draft Evan Neal prop odds
There are all kinds of different wagers you can make on Neal before draft night. He is a +1400 longshot to be the 1st overall pick, so that’s probably not the prop market to focus on when it comes to the former Crimson Tide star. The over/under on his draft position is 5.5, with under being a -125 favorite and over currently registering at -105.
You can also find potential value on Neal being the first offensive lineman or offensive player in general to be drafted. In the OL category, the Okeechobee, Fla. native is a +150 second choice to be first (Ikem Ekwonu is a -175 favorite). Neal is a +175 second favorite to be the first offensive player of any kind off the board (Ekwonu is -140, while the list also includes Liberty QB Malik Willis at +600 and Pittsburgh signal-caller Kenny Pickett at +900). There are plenty of additional props available on Neal and other top prospects, as well. As referenced above, he is -125 to go in the top 5. You can go for longer odds when it comes to betting on exact draft positions. Neal is +3000 to go No. 2 overall (the Lions currently own that selection), +300 to go No. 3 (Texans), +1400 to go No. 4 (Jets) and +300 to go No. 5 (Giants).
2022 NFL Draft Evan Neal best prop bet
Neal’s potential is undeniable. He is a mountain of a man at 6’7’’ and 337 pounds. He moves extremely well for his size, too. As a three-year starter at Alabama facing elite competition basically every time he took the field in college, Neal has the experience necessary to step in right away and be a force at the next level. The 21-year-old’s stock is understandably high.
OL Evan Neal: 2022 NFL Draft profile.https://t.co/ljfRQghspO
— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) April 21, 2022
Although Neal’s projections are not exactly taking a hit down the home stretch to the draft, they also aren’t improving. Ekwonu has surpassed him as the favorite among offensive linemen and it sounds more and more like the position on which an early run will be made is defensive end. Cincinnati CB Sauce Gardner has a great chance of snagging a top 5 spot and even Liberty QB Malik Willis could be taken earlier than expected. Keep in mind that the Giants also have the No. 7 pick – not just No. 5. If they like Neal but don’t love him, the G-Men could wait until their second selection in hopes of the Panthers at No. 6 going in some other direction to satisfy their needs – of which there are many.
At -105, I will bet on Neal falling out of the top 5.
Pickswise 2022 NFL Draft content
Check out some of the great articles our news team has put together on the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft:
- Who will be the first quarterback drafted?
- When will Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett be drafted?
- Who will be the first offensive lineman drafted?
- Who will be the first running back drafted?
- When will Liberty’s Malik Willis be drafted?
Pickswise is the home of NFL Picks. Be sure to check out all of our post-Super Bowl offseason coverage as we gear up for the 2022 campaign.
