Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is currently the clear favorite to be selected No. 1 in April’s NFL Draft.
However, it’s not over until the commissioner calls the first name, and the Las Vegas Raiders are on the clock.
Let’s check out the latest lines for the next No. 1 pick at DraftKings Sportsbook as of April 20.
This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.
2026 NFL Draft No. 1 pick odds
Fernando Mendoza (Indiana): -20000 (bet $10 to win $10.05 total)
Arvell Reese (Ohio State): +9000 (bet $10 to win $910 total)
David Bailey (Texas Tech): +9000 (bet $10 to win $910 total)
Ty Simpson (Alabama): +9000 (bet $10 to win $910 total)
Rueben Bain, Jr (Miami): +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total)
Caleb Downs (Ohio State): +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total)
Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame): +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)
This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.
Here’s what to know about the No. 1 pick oddsboard:
The Favorite: Currently, the heavy favorite in this spot is Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, who moved all the way to -20000 from -8000 since the end of the college football season. In 2025, Mendoza had a dazzling year for the Hoosiers. Including the postseason, he passed for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns. The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner also helped lead the Hoosiers to a perfect season that culminated in a national championship. “The Raiders need a quarterback and Mendoza is the best one in this draft,” FOX Sports Betting Analyst Geoff Schwartz wrote about Mendoza getting drafted first. “This is a no-brainer draft pick and no need to discuss the reasoning. Mendoza will be a Raider.”
Buckeye Long Shot: Considering Mendoza’s odds to be selected No. 1 are so incredibly short, it seems unlikely that another player will end up hearing his name called first. With that in mind, one of the names closest to Mendoza’s on the board is Ohio State’s Arvell Reese at +9000. Schwartz noted that Reese is a “physical freak” whose on-the-field profile is similar to Micah Parsons. FOX Sports Lead College Football Analyst Joel Klatt echoed Schwartz’s sentiment. “Reese has reminded me of star edge rusher Micah Parsons since the fall,” Klatt noted. “He’s an excellent pass rusher, whether he’s rushing from the interior or edge. He’s got bend, athleticism and explosiveness.” In 2024 and 2025, Reese racked up 52 solo tackles and assisted on 60. While he’s a long shot in this spot, Reese does have the shortest odds to be the No. 2 draft pick.
