Nick Bosa, Not Ed Oliver, Listed as Favorite To Go 1st Overall in 2019 NFL Draft

• Books are laying odds that Ohio State’s Nick Bosa will usurp Houston’s Ed Oliver and go first-overall in the 2019 NFL Draft
• Bosa is considered by scouts to be a generational pass-rusher
• Bosa hasn’t played since September due to a core muscle injury 

Can Nick Bosa, a player who hasn’t played a down of football since September, be the first-overall pick in the NFL Draft?

Books certainly think so and the majority of football experts are in lockstep agreement with oddsmakers.

New Big Board for the 2019 class:

1. Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State
2. Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama
3. Devin White, LB, LSU
4. Josh Allen, OLB, Kentucky
5. Greedy Williams, CB, LSU

Top 25: https://t.co/kKMnxU2d9n

— Mel Kiper Jr. (@MelKiperESPN) November 29, 2018

A core muscle injury shelved Bosa early into the college football season. Bosa suffered the injury September 15 in a game against TCU and underwent surgery five days later.

In mid-October the younger brother of Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa announced that he was dropping out of Ohio State to focus on his rehab from the injury and to prepare for the NFL Draft. Oddsmakers had him projected as the third-overall pick at that time.

The decision or the injury haven’t impacted Bosa’s draft status one bit. In fact, his value has only gone up in the eyes of football people.

Odds To Be First Pick in 2019 NFL Draft

Bosa would be the fourth Ohio State Buckeye to go first-overall in the NFL Draft, and the first since tackle Orlando Pace was picked by the St. Louis Rams in 1997.

Bosa Dominating Mock Draft Boards

In just 2.5 games before he was injured, Bosa accounted for 14 tackles, 11 solo tackles, six tackles for losses, and four sacks, and that was enough to leave quite the impression.

Wherever you look, NFL mock drafts have Bosa coming off the board first.

Ohio State's Nick Bosa is first off the board in @PFF_Mike's first mock draft of the season.

For the full first round, click below:

⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ https://t.co/BhmUEjc78c pic.twitter.com/5pvSaevPzX

— PFF (@PFF) December 5, 2018

ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. and Pro Football Focus both have Bosa, the 2018 Big Ten defensive lineman of the year, going first overall in their mock drafts.

It just keeps on getting better for the Bosa family. John Bosa, a defensive end at Boston College, went 16th overall to the Miami Dolphins in the 1987 NFL Draft and played three seasons for the Dolphins. His older son Joey,  who also played at Ohio State, was selected third overall by the Chargers in 2016 and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2017.

What Nick Bosa was able to accomplish in just three games this past season is pretty remarkable pic.twitter.com/qfAtmtmsCB

— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 4, 2018

It’s that family connection that many NFL personnel people believe has put Nick Bosa ahead of the learning curve when it comes to the technique required to play along the defensive line in the NFL.

Oliver’s Stock Plummeting

The Outland Trophy winner in 2017, Houston DT Oliver was seen as the consensus No. 1 pick at the outset of the NCAA season, but nagging injuries slowed him down. He’s not considered to be an elite run stopper.

Ed Oliver announces he will not play in Houston's bowl game as he prepares for the upcoming NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/RHvlXdJktM

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 30, 2018

Oliver is as low as No. 7 on some mock draft boards, and has opted to skip Houston’s Armed Forces Bowl appearance to prep for the draft.