‘Telling friends and family’: NFL Draft shock looms after plunge on 50-1 prospect to go No.1

The rumour mill is working overtime ahead of the NFL draft.

Although Bryce Young is still the betting favourite to be the first overall pick, the odds have drastically improved for former Kentucky quarterback Will Levis following a viral Reddit post.

On Tuesday (all dates US time), a trending post by Reddit user “SaleAgreeable2834” alleged that Levis is telling friends and family the Panthers will select him with the No. 1 overall pick. The odds for the Wildcats product to go No. 1 then shifted.

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Week 17

Will Levis of the Kentucky Wildcats against the Georgia Bulldogs at Kroger Field on November 19, 2022 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

A spokesperson for Caesars said: “There’s definitely been an uptick in the number of bets on Will Levis this morning, but no huge bets.”

Last week, BetMGM took Levis off the board in its odds for the No. 1 pick — and put the 23-year-old prospect back up at 5-1 to be the top pick on Tuesday.

On April 13, Young, the Heisman trophy-winning quarterback out of Alabama, moved past Ohio State star C.J. Stroud as the consensus betting favourite to be the No. 1 overall pick, according to multiple sportsbooks.

At the time, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on “NFL Live” that Carolina had its mind made up about taking Young with the top pick in the draft.

Young has been linked to the Panthers for some time, with ESPN’s Todd McShay reporting last month that a source told him “Young is already their guy at that No. 1 spot” in Carolina.

However, perhaps the Panthers could pull off a surprise move on Night 1 of the draft when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announces the first pick.

The Houston Texans have the second overall pick in the draft, followed by the Arizona Cardinals.

Levis put on a show at Kentucky’s pro day in March, as well as the NFL Scouting Combine, which took place earlier that month in Indianapolis.

The draft begins Thursday in Kansas City.