NFL draft odds: Weak TE class means value in betting 1st taken

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This year's NFL draft doesn't feature a particularly strong tight end class, especially when compared to 2019. But that's part of the fun in trying to project who might be the first one taken.

Will it be favorite Cole Kmet (-300), the all-around tight end from Notre Dame? What about Adam Trautman (+750), who was a monster against FCS competition? Is there a sleeper in the bunch?

Here are the odds on the first TE selected in the draft, followed by five names to consider.

Cole Kmet (-300)

This might be one of the safest bets you can make. In a year without a standout star at the position, Kmet is about as close as it gets - he has ideal size for the position, he's a willing and capable blocker, and he showed signs of dominance in the pass game, namely in his 108-yard breakout performance against Georgia.

If there's any reason not to lay the juice here, it's that no tight end is likely to go in the first round, and teams tend to follow scheme over talent when you start falling into Day 2 and Day 3. Kmet is a solid fit in most schemes, but he might not be the fit in one team's eyes.

Adam Trautman (+750)

It's hard to judge Trautman given the level of competition he faced at Dayton, but he appears to have the size and athleticism to be a mismatch for defenses in the NFL. A team that uses tight ends as focal points of the offense (similar to New England and Baltimore) could be interested by a competent blocker with high upside in the passing game, and Trautman fits the bill.

Hunter Bryant (+1000)

Injuries and a subpar performance at the combine don't help Bryant's chances of rising to the top spot, but it only takes one team to see his upside as a pass-catcher and route-runner. Bryant graded as PFF's top tight end in the class, and he's probably the most intriguing "move" tight end in this bunch, which means plenty of value as a 12-1 long shot.

Thaddeus Moss (+1200)

First off, this price is too short. Moss isn't one of the best tight ends in this class, and it'd be foolish for a team to take him first. But would you be all that surprised? Family ties have affected players' draft stocks in the past, and Randy Moss' son being the first TE off the board would hardly be a shock. That makes his 12-1 price worth a look, at least.

Harrison Bryant (+1700)

The best bet on the board is the "other" Bryant, whom many see as second best in this class behind Kmet. The former Florida Atlantic star won the John Mackey Award in 2019 as the nation's best tight end thanks to his superb route-running and strong hands. His blocking needs some work, but the upside is there, and so is the value at +1700.

C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.