Legal NFL Draft Betting
Toward the end of April each year, all 32 teams in the National Football League gear up to select college players to add to their rosters in hopes of paving the way for potential Super Bowl championships.
The NFL Draft has risen in popularity over the last 30 years, graduating from smoky conference rooms to the nation’s marquee arenas. It’s only natural that betting on each selection has matched that rising trend and become a major phenomenon in its own right.
Now, sportsbooks both online and off are providing a variety of NFL betting odds that include the lines for the top picks. But is it legal? Yes, we’ll cover the legalities later in this guide. We’ll also reveal where to find the best sportsbooks to bet on the draft and provide step-by-step instructions for signing up and placing your wagers.
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Best NFL Draft Betting Sites
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How To Bet On The Draft Online
Prior to placing a wager with an offshore sportsbook, you'll need to sign up for a membership and make your initial deposit into your bankroll. This will require a few simple steps, which are detailed below.
- Check out the top-rated sportsbooks listed here, and pick one or more. We recommend joining several sites so you can shop lines between them and choose the odds with the biggest payouts. The “Join” button will usually be at the top right of the page. Tap or click this button.
- This leads you to a page where you’ll need to enter your name and address and create a login and password. Make sure to use your real information, as offshore books use Know Your Customer (KYC) best practices. This data is secured behind top-of-the-line SSL encryption and is never sold to or shared with third parties.
- The next page will ask for your initial deposit, and most books accept wire transfers, major credit and debit cards, money orders, cashier’s checks, and Bitcoin/crypto. Bitcoin (BTC) is our preferred method. Online sportsbooks each offer different bonuses that match a percentage of your first deposit, so read the details and accept a bonus only if you understand the full terms and conditions. Bonuses aren’t for everyone! **Note - you don't have to deposit any money until you are ready to place your bets.
- Once you've got your deposit settled, navigate to the Football section of your sportsbook and locate the NFL betting section, then find a subsection with a label for the draft.
- Make your picks, just like the teams on the clock.
- Watch the picks come off the board and celebrate your winnings when your bet pays off! Now, let’s just hope the team’s bet pays off, too.
What Is The NFL Draft
The NFL Draft is an annual event where National Football League teams select eligible college football players. All 32 teams receive one pick in each of seven rounds, with the order generally based on the previous season’s standings, moving from worst record to best. That means the team with the poorest finish usually gets the first overall selection and picks early in each round.
Teams may also trade picks to move up or down the board, acquire additional selections, or land the rights to current players. The first few athletes chosen are often on-site to pose with their new team’s jersey and hat before taking part in a brief television interview.
Coverage typically runs for three days, creating several hours of betting interest. Fans can cheer for their hometown team, hope a rival makes the wrong choice, or follow the odds as the action unfolds. With year-round NFL attention, the draft should remain a popular betting option for years to come.
2027 NFL Draft Schedule
- First Round - April 22nd at 8 PM on NFL Network
- Second & Third Rounds - April 23rd at 7 PM on NFL Network
- Fourth Through Seventh Rounds - April 24th at Noon on NFL Network
The event will take place on the National Mall in front of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.
What Type Of Bets Can I Place On The Draft?
The only limit to the amount and type of odds that can be placed on the draft are the imagination of the oddsmakers. There are seven rounds with a total of 224 selections, so pump those numbers into your calculators, and you'll see that the possibilities for betting on the NFL and its marquee selection day are nearly infinite.
Odds for the first overall pick are usually availalble year-round. The following bet types will appear on the boards once the college and pro seasons conclude and the order of selections is known.
- First overall selection
- Exact order of top picks
- Player position of the first selection
- Team to choose a specific player
- Specific player landing spot
- Number of players from a position in Round 1
- Number of players from a school in Round 1
- Over/under on selection number
- Conference of the first player chosen
- First offensive player selected
- First defensive player selected
- First quarterback selected
- First wide receiver selected
- First running back selected
- First offensive lineman selected
- First defensive lineman selected
- First cornerback selected
- First trade to occur
- Team’s first position selected
- Exact pick for a specific player
- Mr. Irrelevant odds
You can learn more about pro football wagering options here.
2027 NFL Draft Odds
NFL Betting occurs year-round, but most futures bets won't payout at least until the season begins in September. That's why the draft betting options that appear at popular sportsbooks each spring serve as an oasis for pro football gamblers who are thirsty for more action.
1st Overall Pick 2027 NFL Draft
- Arch Manning (TEX)+150
- Dante Moore (ORE)+550
- CJ Carr (ND)+600
- Jeremiah Smith (OSU)+650
- Julian Sayin (OSU)+1000
- LaNorris Sellers (SC)+1100
- Colin Simmons (TEX)+1500
- Jayden Maiava (USC)+1500
- Drew Mestemaker (OSU)+1800
- Darian Mensah (MIA)+2000
- Dylan Stewart (SCAR)+2200
- Josh Hoover (TCU)+3500
- DJ Lagway (FLA)+4000
- John Mateer (OU)+4000
- Brendan Sorsby (TT)+5000
- Byrum Brown (AUB)+5000
- Trinidad Chambliss (MISS)+5000
- Sam Leavitt (LSU)+5500
- Jordan Seaton (COL)+6000
- Trevor Goosby (TEX)+6000
- Ryan Williams (ALA)+6500
Is It Legal To Bet On The NFL Draft?
Yes, NFL prop bets, futures, and more can be wagered on as long as you place your bet at a domestic or online sportsbook that is operating legally. If visiting a domestic sportsbook is not a feasible option, an offshore betting site accepts bets 24 hours a day from almost anywhere in the United States.
Thankfully, there are no US federal gambling laws that prohibit football fans from placing bets at online sports betting sites that are operating legally outside of the USA's jurisdiction. These sites accept bettors from most states, but some regions are restricted. Visit the gambling laws section in our top menu for the full spectrum of state and federal sports betting regulations.
FAQs
Additional Resources
- Mobile Sports Betting: Learn more about betting on the NFL Draft using iPhones, iPads, and Android devices
- Live NFL Betting: Live draft odds are available for the top picks, so find out how and where it can be done
- Sportsbook Bonuses: Should you accept a sportsbook bonus? Learn more by reading this guide
- Funding Your Online Sports Betting Account: Discover what USD and cryptocurrency funding options are offered by our top recommended legal sportsbook sites
- The Official Website Of The NFL Draft








