Malik Willis the Betting Favorite at Pick 34

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Minnesota Vikings maneuvered around the 1st round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night and it landed them Georgia Safety, Lewis Cine (#32), the 2nd pick for round two (#34) and an additional 3rd rounder (#66). Twelve hours later, in the NFL player props bets section at Fanduel, Liberty Quarterback Malik Willis is a heavy betting favorite to be the pick at No. 34 on Friday evening.

That means the Vikings are about to snag their QB of the future, right? Not so fast. While sportsbooks are betting on Willis getting drafted at 34, they aren’t sure as to what team will be on the other end of his congratulatory phone call. Seattle holds the best odds (+250). Minnesota and Tennessee come in 2nd, tied at +340. Tampa Bay, who holds the first pick in the 2nd round, sits at +600.

Before you think trade, take a look at this… pic.twitter.com/NEtbhYyb8l

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) April 29, 2022

Drafting Malik Willis Would Set Fanbase on Fire

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah already laid his reputation on the line with his first round antics, passing on Kyle Hamilton and Jameson Williams, to fall back twenty positions and draft Cine. If he uses the rest of that trade capital on Willis, the microscope will only intensify.

Many experts see Lewis Cine as a mid-first round talent and Malik Willis as the best QB in this draft. So if the Minnesota Vikings turn pick 12 into Lewis Cine and Malik Willis, half of the football world will worship Kwesi’s maneuvering.

Others, who wanted Kyle Hamilton or Jameson Williams and those who think Malik Willis is just another QB bust, will crown the 2022 NFL Draft a disaster of a debut for Kwesi & Co. Either way, Willis’ odds to get picked at #34 is sure to add more intrigue as 6 PM approaches.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan