NFL Draft Odds: Best Bets Of Who Detroit Lions May Take at No. 7

The 2021 NFL Draft has been stealthily approaching without much fanfare.

The first round is scheduled for Thursday, April 29, which is just a little over two weeks from now.

Leading up to the event, significant activity and changes have occurred within the NFL. The Detroit Lions find themselves in a captivating situation, holding the seventh overall pick.

Take a glimpse at the NFL Draft odds that could provide insight into the Lions’ choice in the first round.

Lots of options available for Detroit

In the past few months, numerous names have emerged in mock drafts, associating them with the Detroit Lions.

DraftKings Sportsbook has provided the following odds for draft position for players associated with the Detroit team.

• The over/under for OT Penei Sewell is set at 5.5, with the odds favoring the over at -134 and the under at +108.
• The Over/Under for TE Kyle Pitts is set at 5.5, with the Over option at +101 and the Under option at -125.
• Trey Lance, the quarterback, has an over/under of 6.5 with odds of over (-112) and under (-112).
• The over/under for WR Ja’Marr Chase is set at 6.5, with the over at +120 and the under at -150.
• The betting line for CB Patrick Surtain II is set at 10.5 interceptions. The odds for him surpassing this number are -112, while the odds for him falling below it are also -112.
• Linebacker Micah Parsons has set the over/under at 11.5, with the over being favored at -112 and the under also at -112.
• The over/under for WR DaVonta Smith is set at 11.5, with the over option having odds of -104 and the under option having odds of -121.
• Jaylen Waddle’s Over/Under line is set at 11.5, with the Over option having odds of -125, and the Under option having odds of +101.

Lions address some offseason needs

In 2021, the appearance of the Detroit Lions will be noticeably altered.

Former Lion Dan Campbell is leading the team’s new coaching staff, while Brad Holmes takes on the role of the team’s new general manager.

There has been a complete overhaul of the roster.

The Los Angeles Rams acquired Matthew Stafford, a franchise quarterback, in exchange for Jared Goff and three draft picks.

Several key players, such as Justin Coleman, Jamal Agnew, Jarrad Davis, Danny Shelton, Marvin Jones, Matt Prater, Desmond Trufant, and Kenny Golladay, have all bid farewell to Detroit.

After Romeo Okwara’s impressive 10-sack season in 2020, the team decided to extend his contract for another 3 years.

In addition, the Lions made a trade, giving up a seventh-round pick in the 2024 draft, to acquire defensive tackle Michael Brockers. Furthermore, they strategically restructured his contract to bolster the strength of their defensive line.

The Lions made only one multiyear contract signing for free agents, with former Packers running back Jamaal Williams agreeing to a two-year deal.

Early trades shake up 2021 NFL Draft

The Detroit Lions’ selection at No. 7 could potentially be influenced by a couple of significant trades involving first-round picks that occurred last month.

In the initial trade, the Miami Dolphins relinquished their No. 3 pick to the San Francisco 49ers. In return, the 49ers offered their No. 12 pick, a 2021 third-round pick, and their first-round picks in both 2024 and 2024, enabling them to secure the No. 3 position.

The 49ers are reportedly showing interest in selecting Alabama QB Mac Jones as their third pick. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Jones’ Over/Under Draft Position is set at 3.5, with the under option having odds of -270.

The Dolphins swiftly moved on from the 12th spot, opting to trade it along with their 2021 fourth-round pick and 2024 first-round pick in order to climb back up to the 6th spot. In exchange, the Philadelphia Eagles relinquished the 6th spot and included a fifth-round pick.

With the draft looming, numerous mock drafts are speculating that Pitts could be chosen by the Dolphins with the 6th overall pick.

How does all this affect the Detroit Lions?

Mock drafts commonly predict that quarterbacks will be chosen in the first four picks. It is widely believed that Trevor Lawrence will be selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars as the first overall pick. Zach Wilson, Mac Jones, and Justin Fields are often projected to be chosen at numbers 2 to 4 in various orders.

The presence of Trey Lance, who is still available, might prompt the Lions to consider trading down. The Washington Football Team or Denver Broncos could potentially be interested in trading up to secure the promising North Dakota State prospect.

Many mock drafts connect Detroit to a receiver, although the majority of these receivers are not deserving of the No. 7 pick.

Chase is widely regarded as the most talented player in the class and is given a high chance of -625 odds by DraftKings to be the first wide receiver chosen. Smith (+600) and Waddle (+700) come after Chase in the odds.

After the departures of Jones and Golladay, the Lions are facing a significant void in their receiving corps. While they did acquire Tyrell Williams and Breshad Perriman on one-year contracts in free agency, neither of them possess the qualities of a top-tier primary receiver. Hence, the need for a No. 1 receiving option in Detroit remains prominent.

Three likely options at No. 7

Assuming Detroit retains its No. 7 position, the team will have several compelling player options available. With quarterbacks expected to be selected at Nos. 1-4, the 2021 NFL Draft odds suggest that Sewell, Pitts, Lance, and Chase are the most probable choices for the next three picks.

Despite the criticism Detroit receives for selecting another tight end at a high position after T.J. Hockenson in 2019, Pitts appears to possess exceptional talent that comes once in a generation due to his impressive physical attributes. With a height of 6-foot-6 and weighing 245 pounds, Pitts displayed remarkable speed by running the 40-yard dash in just 4.44 seconds, and his wingspan exceeded 83 inches.

Without a doubt, Sewell is the leading lineman in the draft. The probability of him being chosen as the first lineman is -715. If Detroit decides to pick him, they would probably need to place him as the right tackle since Taylor Decker is already firmly established as the starting left tackle.

If the Lions decide to keep their position, Ja’Marr Chase, the 6-foot receiver from LSU, appears to be the most probable outcome considering all the available information.