First RB Draft Odds: Who Will Likely Be The First RB Picked In The NFL Draft?

The latest NFL draft odds anticipate a run on quarterbacks when the first round opens, after which they expect things to open up. Betting lines are available on how it will all shake out, including on which running back will hear his name called first. 

The 2024 NFL draft will be from Thursday to Friday in Detroit. Current betting odds have Trey Benson and Jonathon Brooks as the favorites to be the first RB off the board, followed by Blake Corum. Read on for a detailed look at the contenders and the latest draft odds on the first RB drafted. 

First running back drafted odds 

Sites where you can bet on the NFL draft have a host of lines available for the seven-round event. One of the most popular options is wagering on which player will be the first pick from each position. Here are the top contenders to be the first running back drafted, along with the latest odds from FanDuel Sportsbook. 

Jonathon Brooks, Texas: +110

Brooks is the other favorite to be the top RB pick in 2024. His final college season with the Longhorns ended early due to an ACL injury in November. Before going down, he had 187 carries for 1,139 yards and 10 TDs, along with 25 catches for 286 yards and a touchdown. 

Listed at 6 feet tall and 207 pounds, Brooks did not partake in combine drills due to the injury. He’s expected to be ready to go for training camp. While the injury could scare off some potential suitors, betting odds suggest he’ll be one of the first backs off the board.   

Trey Benson, Florida State: +250

Benson is a junior and checks in at 6 foot 1 and 223 pounds. He has spent the last two seasons as a top back for the Seminoles after transferring from Oregon. Last season, he had 156 carries for 905 yards and two touchdowns, 

He also added 20 catches for 227 yards and another two TDs. At the NFL draft combine, Benson clocked a time of 4.39 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He could be off the board in round one or two, potentially as the first RB drafted.  

Blake Corum, Michigan: +450

Corum was a key cog on offense for the national championship-winning Wolverines. The senior had a prolific college career and closed it out with a bang, racking up 1,362 combined yards and 28 trips to the end zone while averaging 4.8 yards per carry. 

At the combine, Corum ran the 40-yard dash in 4.53 seconds. He also led all running backs with 27 bench press reps. Sportsbooks have the 5-foot-8, 213-pounder as the third favorite to be the first running back off the board. 

Jaylen Wright, Tennessee: +900

Wright is a 5-foot-11, 210-pound junior. For his final season with the Volunteers, he had 137 carries for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns to go along with 22 catches for 141 yards. His average yards per carry steadily climbed over his three seasons, peaking at 7.4 last season.  

For the 2023 campaign, he rushed for 100 or more yards in six of 12 games. Wright also impressed at the scouting combine. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds and posted the second-best broad jump by an RB in combine history at 11 feet and two inches. 

MarShawn Lloyd, USC: +1000

Lloyd transferred from South Carolina following the 2022 campaign. In his lone season with the Trojans, he had 116 carries for 820 yards (7.1 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns. He also had 13 catches for 232 yards. 

Listed at 5 foot 9 and 210 pounds, Lloyd topped 100 yards on the ground twice last season. He gained 187 combined yards and scored twice in a wild 50-49 win over Cal, and ran for 154 in a 42-28 victory over Arizona State. At the combine, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds. 

Odds for other RBs to be picked first

• Will Shipley, Clemson: +3400
• Audric Estime, Notre Dame: +4900
• Braelon Allen, Wisconsin: +4900
• Ray Davis, Kentucky: +4900
• Issac Guerendo, Louisville: +7500
• Bucky Irving, Oregon: +10000
• Cody Schrader, Missouri: +10000

Of the players on that list, Schrader had the most ground yards for his final college season. He had 267 carries for 1,627 yards and 14 TDs, and also hauled in 22 receptions for 191 yards. Estime tied for third in the nation in rushing TDs with 18. He had five multi-TD games, including a four-touchdown outburst in a 56-23 win over Stanford. 

Recent history of RBs at the NFL draft

At last year’s draft, two RBs went in the first round — Bijan Robinson at pick eight to the Falcons and Jahmyr Gibbs at 12 to the Lions — and 18 were drafted overall. Here’s a look at the first RB selected each year over the last decade at the NFL draft.