The mystery and intrigue that used to surround the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft doesn’t exist in 2021. Just like last year when Joe Burrow was the no-doubt top pick, Trevor Lawrence (-10000) is the overwhelming favorite to be the first name called by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on April 29. As such, there isn’t much to discuss at the tippy top of the draft.

Two big things have changed since the original publish of this article back on March 12. The New York Jets have traded Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers and Deshaun Watson is engulfed in legal issues. Together, those occurrences all but assure that the Jets will be taking a quarterback at No. 2 overall. the only question now is which one.

Let’s take a look at the odds for the second player selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, courtesy of BetOnline.

Zach Wilson (-2000)
Justin Fields (+850)
Trey Lance (+1600)
Penei Sewell (+2200)

Wilson is a considerable favorite to be the second player off the board, and he’s jumped from -350 to -2000 over the last month. But is he the best bet?

Zach Wilson (-2000)

No player in the 2021 NFL Draft cycle has seen his stock rise more than Wilson. His dazzling arm talent and BYU’s rise into the national spotlight this past season made Wilson a must-see entity all autumn. His fearlessness and mobility have NFL evaluators salivating. There are even some who believe he should challenge or overtake Lawrence as QB1. Wilson projects as a solid fit in Mike LaFleur’s offense with the ability to grow into a future franchise quarterback, especially if he cleans up some of the overconfident areas of his game at the next level.

While I believe Wilson should be the favorite and is most likely to be the No. 2 overall pick at publish time, the juice associated with wagering on him makes him an unattractive option. The margin between him and Fields—TDN’s QB2 and the QB2 for the majority of the season—indicates a wider split between the two players than what actually exists. However, there is little reason to believe he won't be a Jet on April 29.

Justin Fields (+850)

Fields’ 2020 season wasn’t always pretty, so he opened the door for Wilson to take over the QB2 spot in the eyes of many. Arm strength and mobility are his calling cards, and Fields uses both as weapons. His toughness and leadership were on full display against Clemson, as he outdueled the likely top pick in this draft with injuries that would’ve sidelined most. Fields will need to sufficiently answer questions about his poor performances against Indiana and Northwestern in order to go above Wilson, but he’s got all the tools to succeed at the next level if his NFL team allows him to use the breadth of his skill set.

As previously mentioned, Fields is TDN’s consensus QB2 and was in that spot for everyone coming into the 2020 season. However, given what we know now, Fields could be a draft night faller if he gets past the San Francisco 49ers at No. 3 overall. While odds of 8.5/1 could net a nice return, there does not appear to be any momentum to Fields going to New York.

Most Likely Pick: Zach Wilson

Best Bet: Zach Wilson (-2000)

Click here to wager on this bet or other NFL Draft props at BetOnline.