WR/TE draft position odds: Bet high on Kyle Pitts, Ja'Marr Chase

The NFL draft is just over a week away, and the top of the draft board is starting to clear up. A quarterback will almost certainly go first, second, and third, but who goes fourth? Will it be another signal-caller, or could a pass-catcher slide into that spot?

Here are the odds from theScore Bet for the draft position of the top receivers (and tight end) in this class, along with our best bets for each:

Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida (4.5)

The gem of this year's receiving class isn't even a natural wideout. That's how tantalizing Pitts' receiving upside is. He has a chance to be the highest-drafted tight end since Vernon Davis went sixth overall in 2005.

This bet comes down to whether you think the Falcons will use the fourth pick on Pitts or opt for a quarterback. ESPN and The Athletic have Pitts at No. 4, while the reporters at NFL.com are split on Pitts versus a quarterback. It depends on who you trust. But with Atlanta's pick so uncertain at this stage, give me the plus money.

Pick: Under 4.5 (+210)

Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU (6.5)

How legit are these Chase-to-Cincinnati rumors? The Bengals are building around Joe Burrow, and one of the best ways to do that is to use the No. 5 pick on a potentially elite receiver who spent two years catching darts from Burrow at LSU.

Another way is to improve the offensive line, which could mean Cincinnati passing on Chase for Penei Sewell or Rashawn Slater. Yet the Dolphins (No. 6) also need offensive playmakers to build around their franchise quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa. If Pitts is gone by then, it's hard to see Miami passing on Chase - assuming the Bengals haven't grabbed him first.

Pick: Under 6.5 (-200)

DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama (9.5)

This is where things get interesting. Last year, we saw two premier receiver prospects come out of Alabama: one possessed elite college stats and a "safe floor," while the other had game-breaking speed and upside despite injury concerns and less production.

We all know how that played out. Henry Ruggs was the first receiver off the board, while Jerry Jeudy surprisingly fell three spots later. Smith and Jaylen Waddle aren't the same players as their former teammates. However, if we've learned anything from past years, it's that teams will swing for upside and hesitate on safer receivers - especially those with Smith's size concerns.

Pick: Over 9.5 (-185)

Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama (11)

If Smith is playing the Jeudy role in this analogy, that makes Waddle the Ruggs-like riser in this year's class. It's an easy comparison to make - Waddle's speed is similarly electrifying, while his frame and injury history make him a quintessential boom-or-bust prospect.

The difference, though, might be supply and demand. While Ruggs was the first receiver off the board in 2020 - at No. 12, for what that's worth - Waddle will almost certainly be drafted below Pitts and Chase, and possibly even Smith. There aren't enough spots at the top of the draft to justify betting on a top-10 selection for Waddle.

Pick: Over 11 (-150)

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.