in NFL Betting Trends

The Washington Redskins, who traded every pick, I could basically sleep through it). The point is, there was virtually no coverage then, but these days you can't avoid it. Indeed, it is everywhere.

And hey - honk if you're an "NFL Draft Expert." It seems every website, radio station or cable network has one, and usually it's someone whose living never depended on having to evaluate players with any kind of consistency.

So we decided to take a different route here. I contacted an actual NFL scout, who's had more than two decades in the business, to get his viewpoint as I laid out the player comparisons you'll see below, based on the BetUS NFL Draft odds. He consented to help on condition of anonymity, since this is, after all, a wagering website. My own picks are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars. So away we go:

BetUS NFL Draft Odds

(Draft takes place on April 26)

WHO WILL BE DRAFTED FIRST?

CHRIS LONG (DE, VIRGINIA) -145

JAKE LONG (OT, MICHIGAN) +105

The Scout: "I know that Miami has the first pick and is considering Chris Long, but he isn't a great fit down there because of the scheme. He's probably the top defensive player on my board, but he's really a 4-3 end. He's not a great talent but makes up for it with technique and with a superior work ethic. Those things certainly count in the NFL. Plus, he's a good character guy and someone who covers the whole field. He really knows how to play off the block, which is important at this level. And he's got great backside pursuit.

Jake Long is one of those guys who really knows how to follow through on his blocks. And he very rarely had a bad game. He's the type of player who can start for some team for 10-12 years. But he is basically a right tackle, and with the passing game so prevalent today the left tackle is the one who is the more prized pick and the one who gets priority. As far as first-round level talents are concerned, the right tackles usually get less priority. I don't think a team is going to take a right tackle with one of the top picks. I would expect that at least five or six picks could go by before he's taken."

JAY'S PLAY: CHRIS LONG (-145) ***

-- If Chris Long does not go in the top spot to Miami, he will go soon afterward. And yes, even though we have seen the value of a great right tackle in the running game (Willie Anderson, for example), he's not as critical against the pass rush unless you've got a left-handed quarterback.

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BetUS NFL Draft Odds

(Draft takes place on April 26)

WHO WILL BE DRAFTED FIRST?

VERNON GHOLSTON (DE, OHIO STATE) -300

SEDRICK ELLIS (DT, USC) +220

The Scout: "Well, let me say this. I think Gholston is over-rated. He's strong as hell, but I see him as a disappointing pass rusher. He's a little stiff out there - he has a hard time changing direction, and he doesn't chase down the quarterback as well as I thought he might. I also have doubts about his ability to make big plays in the fourth quarter of games, because he may be gassed. But I do think he'll be drafted highly, perhaps ahead of Ellis, because for some reason he's flying up draft boards. So a lot of teams like him.

Personally, I like Ellis better as a player. He is extremely quick, and has the ability to occupy people in the middle of the line. Very productive. Really good body control. He gets good leverage off the ball. Very explosive. He may not ultimately wind up being a superstar, but he's got a chance to be a starter for a long time in this league. I would put him the top 10-12 selections, with Gholston possibly as low as the middle of the round."

JAY'S PLAY: ELLIS (+220) **

-- I'll take a shot with the underdog here. Ellis must be dropping a bit, because at least one draft publication (a magazine) had him going #1 overall. But I think there might be a few teams who feel the same way our ace scout feels. It just depends on which teams those are. What I hear is that Kansas City likes him a lot and will draft him; maybe not at their current position (5th) but may trade down a few spots on the assumption that he'll be there. If they can't make a deal, however, they could grab him at #5.

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BetUS NFL Draft Odds

(Draft takes place on April 26)

WHO WILL BE DRAFTED FIRST?

The BetUS and beyond!