Nick Bosa the Odds-On Favorite to be Selected 2nd Overall in 2019 NFL Draft

By Chris Amberley in NFL Football
Published:

- Nick Bosa is a heavy favorite to be selected with the 2nd-overall pick
- Bosa is the consensus #1 prospect in the 2019 NFL Draft class
- Is there value betting Bosa to go 2nd or is there risk he’ll rise or fall?
Ohio State edge rusher Nick Bosa is the consensus best player in the 2019 NFL Draft (Thursday, Apr. 25th) but, unfortunately for him, he’s much more likely to be selected 2nd-overall than he is 1st.
Odds to Be 2nd-Overall Pick in 2019 NFL Draft
Player | College, Position | #2 NFL Draft pick odds at Bookmaker |
---|---|---|
Nick Bosa | Ohio State, EDGE | -280 |
Quinnen Williams | Alabama, DT | +325 |
Kyler Murray | Oklahoma, QB | +550 |
Dwayne Haskins | Ohio State, QB | +1200 |
Josh Allen | Kentucky, EDGE | +2000 |
*Odds taken April 2
That’s because the Arizona Cardinals, who are on the clock, are reportedly enamored with Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray and his unique skill set. Murray is a heavy favorite to go number one, but Bosa falling to number two might not be the lock it once seemed.
If the Cardinals can’t work a substantial trade with the Raiders at pick No.4 or the Giants at No. 6, I now think – yes, again – that Nick Bosa will be the pick at No.1. I know, sorry.
— Bob McManaman (@azbobbymac) April 1, 2019
Bosa Back in Consideration for the Cardinals
As it stands right now, the Cardinals are playing their cards close to the vest and are weighing all their options. They wined and dined Bosa last week in Florida and will reportedly host him later this week in Arizona.
The Cardinals will host Ohio State DE Nick Bosa in Arizona on Thursday and Friday, per source. It’s one of Arizona’s 30 allotted in-house prospect visits.
Bosa also had dinner with the Cards brass on Friday night in Fort Lauderdale. So the team is doing plenty of work on him.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 1, 2019
Maybe they’re just doing their due diligence or maybe they’re having second thoughts on passing on one of the best pass-rush prospects of the last five years.

During his three-year career at Ohio State, Bosa racked up 17.5 sacks and 29 tackles for loss, despite missing the bulk of his junior season.
He has Pro Football Focus’ second-highest pass rushing grade among college players since 2014, behind only Myles Garrett, and ahead of his NFL-star brother Joey.
[Bosa] has Pro Football Focus’ second-highest pass rushing grade among college players since 2014, behind only Myles Garrett.
He’d be the perfect compliment to Chandler Jones, and Arizona’s new linebackers coach, Bill Davis, who spent the last two seasons at Ohio State, has been beating the drum for Bosa ever since he arrived in the desert.
Bosa Won’t Make it Past the Niners at #2
If the Cards opt to select Murray, there’s little chance San Francisco passes on Bosa at number two. He’d be the rare choice that is both the best player available and fills a desperate need.
The Niners are determined to bolster a pass rush that’s ranked bottom 12 in sacks in each of the last six seasons, and Bosa would help immediately.
While at Kentucky’s pro day on Friday, a representative of one of the 32 NFL teams in attendance said to me, “What are you doing here? The #49ers are going to take Bosa.”
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) March 24, 2019
He has the tools to be a franchise-changing player and, combined with DeForest Buckner and newly signed Dee Ford, would create one of the most talented D-lines in the NFL.
Swing for the Fences on Bosa
Bosa isn’t falling to number three, and while he may wind up going to San Francisco at two, he’s definitely still in the conversation to be the first player selected.
Everyone is tweeting about Nick Bosa so here’s a video of a Nick Bosa strip sack for a defensive touchdown. Nick Bosa is very good at football.
(?: @PFF_Steve)pic.twitter.com/C7PrxrJrdm— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) March 28, 2019
There’s a reason why the Cardinals are trying to learn more about him and it’s the same reason why they’re still hanging on to Josh Rosen. They’re not completely sold on Kyler Murray, and it might be time to start exploring Bosa’s odds to be the first name called by Commissioner Goodell.
SBD’s 2019 NFL Draft Coverage
- Kyler Murray’s Odds of Being Selected 1st Overall Listed at -400 Less Than 1 Month Before Draft
- Odds Say Greedy Williams is First DB Selected in 2019 NFL Draft
- DK Metcalf Heavily Favored to be First WR Selected in 2019 NFL Draft
- Bookmaker’s Odds Say Giants Will Select Dwayne Haskins in 2019 NFL Draft

Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.