Williams is widely expected to go No. 1 to the Chicago Bears, who traded Justin Fields to Pittsburgh earlier this offseason. The Bears' current quarterback depth chart consists of 2023 free agent rookie Tyson Bagent and journeyman Brett Rypien.

Williams is likely to step in as the immediate starter for the Bears, leading to his +250 odds at DraftKings to win top offensive rookie honors next season. That's well ahead of wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. (+550) and Malik Nabers, who is being offered at +800 along with former LSU teammate quarterback Jayden Daniels.

OFFENSIVE ROY ODDS

Caleb Williams, QB, Southern Cal (+250)

Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State (+550)

Malik Nabers, WR, LSU (+800)

Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU (+800)

Rome Odunze, WR, Washington (+1100)

Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina (+1100)

J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan (+1600)

Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington (+1800)

Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia (+2200)

Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU (+2500)

Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas (+3500)

Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas (+3500)

Bo Nix, QB, Oregon (+3500)

Williams will no doubt remain the favorite once all the leading contenders' NFL destinations are known following the draft, but he's also walking into a prime position to be an immediate producer.

Chicago brought in running back D'Andre Swift and wide receiver Keenan Allen this offseason to add firepower to complement Williams. That trio will join an offensive group that also includes No. 1 wide receiver DJ Moore and tight end Cole Kmet.

Daniels is expected to go to Washington with the second overall pick. The Commanders do have veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota if they want to bring Daniels along a bit slower. They also added tight end Zach Ertz this offseason and have a solid receiving corps led by Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson.

Beyond that, where the skill position players wind up remains to be seen and their related odds of winning rookie honors next season will be impacted.

Harrison, Nabers and Odunze are each viewed as elite wide receiver prospects. Harrison is the -275 favorite at BetMGM to go to Arizona with the fourth overall pick, while Nabers is the +160 favorite to go sixth overall to the New York Giants. However, Odunze leads with 27.6 percent of the money backing him to land with the Giants.

The biggest liability for BetMGM at No. 6 overall is Odunze's former teammate Michael Penix Jr., whose name has been increasingly mentioned as a possibility to replace Daniel Jones in New York.

The franchise announced Thursday that it will retire No. 28, worn by Pro Football Hall of Fame member Darrell Green for 20 seasons, in ceremonies during the 2024 season.

Green learned the news after he arrived at the Commanders Park training facility, thinking he was summoned there to voice a video prepared by the team for the NFL draft. With his family present, team officials gave him the news.

"I would've never dreamed this," the former cornerback said. "I was so shocked. It's almost like it breathed life into me. I have never been so surprised, shocked. My head is still spinning, but I am a million percent humbled."

Green, who won two Super Bowls with the Washington franchise, was an All-Pro, the 1996 Walter Payton Man of the Year and already was a member of the Commanders Ring of Fame. He was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, in 2008.

He becomes the fifth member of the franchise to have his jersey retired, joining Sonny Jurgensen (No. 9), Bobby Mitchell (No. 49), Sammy Baugh (No. 33) and Sean Taylor (No. 21).

"I'm humbly grateful," Green, 64, said. "I feel like crying just thinking about it right now. This means a lot to me."

Washington selected Green No. 28 overall in 1983, and he played in 295 games (258 starts). In his era, Washington reached the playoffs eight times.

He broke team records for most career interceptions (54), most games started and played, most consecutive seasons (20), longest fumble returned for a touchdown (78 yards) and most interceptions returned for touchdown (six). He also made 1,202 tackles.

Green also became known for his off-field contributions in the community, founding the Darrell Green Youth Foundation.

"Darrell Green's legacy transcends the boundaries of the football field," said Josh Harris, the Commanders' managing partner, in a team-released statement. "Throughout his remarkable career, Green embodied the values of excellence, perseverance, and sportsmanship on and off the field."

Harris continued: "Retiring Darrell Green's jersey symbolizes our commitment to preserving the rich history and tradition of our franchise. His presence as one of the greatest players to ever wear the Burgundy and Gold will forever be felt at Commanders Field, serving as an inspiration to current and future generations of players, coaches, and fans."

Chicago released a proposal for a domed stadium on Wednesday, with $3.2 billion earmarked for the stadium itself and another $1.5 billion for infrastructure.

The team announced that it would put more than $2 billion toward the stadium project. According to the Chicago Tribune, to make up the rest, the Bears would seek $300 million from the NFL and would ask the state of Illinois to borrow $900 million, which would be paid back by Chicago's 2 percent hotel tax.

The plan didn't sit well with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

"I remain skeptical about this proposal, and I wonder whether it's a good deal for the taxpayers," Pritzker said. "There are a lot of priorities that the state has, and I'm not sure that this is among the highest priorities for taxpayers."

Non-profit group Friends of the Parks, which focuses on Chicago's Lakefront Protection ordinance, also criticized the plan, writing in a statement, "As is so often the case in Chicago, the powerful and wealthy are demanding that our entire city stop and fast track their plans to expand operations on the people's lakefront."

However, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson attended the Bears' press conference announcing the proposal, which he called a "crown jewel." He added, "This project will result in no new taxes on the residents of Chicago."

The Bears' new home would be located on the edge of Lake Michigan -- just like Soldier Field, Chicago's current stadium -- and would add green and open space to the city's lakefront while also providing better access to the Museum Campus.

"This is an incredibly, incredibly special day for the Chicago Bears," Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren said in a statement on Wednesday. "For the City of Chicago, for the state of Illinois, for our ownership, for our players, for our coaches, for our staff members, for the alumni and for our incredible Chicago Bear fans.

"Today is about progress, and one of the things that I am most excited about today is the fact that this shows that in this city we have the intellectual capabilities, we have the heart, we have the passion, we have the foresight, we have the wisdom, we have the vision to do big things."

In addition to 14 acres of athletic fields for youth sports programs and park space for the general public, there could also be a publicly owned hotel near the site of the new stadium.

Fans would get to experience attractions indoors and outdoors, and there would also be a plaza that features restaurants and retail stores.

"This is not an easy project, but Chicago doesn't like it easy," Warren said.

The Giants' game plan will likely be predicated upon what happens with the five selections ahead of them.

Chicago is widely expected to take Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick, and LSU's Jayden Daniels is favored to go to Washington at No. 2. What happens after that remains highly uncertain.

Could the Giants move up to select a quarterback such as North Carolina's Drake Maye? Or will they sit tight and see which elite prospects fall into their lap after the expected run on quarterbacks? Schoen also didn't dismiss the possibility of trading back to accumulate additional picks.

"You're going through all the possible scenarios, whether it's moving up, staying where we are or moving back," Schoen said Wednesday. "There's a lot of strategy that's going into it right now."

Schoen said he has been staying in touch with general managers around the league and will continue to do so leading up to the start of Thursday's first round. The pre-draft work helps with making decisions once the clock starts running.

"I told all those people, ‘Nothing's really going to happen before Thursday, so call back,'" Schoen said. "We'll have conversations early in the day on, ‘Hey, if we did do something, what would it look like?' And typically, you have a few deals in place before the draft starts. That way, when you're on the clock, everything's been negotiated."

The Giants own one selection in each of the first six rounds, but are without a seventh-round pick after acquiring linebacker Isaiah Simmons from Arizona last year. Schoen has made trades in each of his first two drafts with the Giants, including moving up to grab cornerback Deonte Banks at No. 24 last year.

However, don't expect the Giants to slide back significantly on Thursday. Schoen said the team currently has 15 players with first-round grades on their draft board.

"Every year it's different based on what you're given," he said. "You don't put them there just for posterity or just a visual for window dressing. These are guys that we think deserve first-round grades. If they're not up there, you put them in the second. You put them where their grade is. We don't put 32 guys up there to have 32 guys in the first round.

"I think each year the ebbs and flows of where the depth of the draft is and where you can acquire players, it shifts based on different variables."

The pre-draft work will continue through Wednesday night and up until the clock begins on the No. 1 pick Thursday night. Part of Schoen's job is sifting through all the "smoke" of various rumors around the league while also keeping his cards close to his vest.

"I'm going to make a lot of phone calls on Thursday," he said. "Hopefully, some information will start to trickle out in terms of what's going to happen in front of us so we can continue to headcount who may be there at six, or what we may be doing, if we're going to move up, back, or stay where we are.

"Just try to gather as much information as I can ... talk to the other general managers around the league. If anybody wants to come up to six, get those agreements in place. Things will happen fast once you're on the clock, so you've got to be ready."

Hendrickson signed a one-year, $21 million extension that included an $8 million signing bonus last year, but now he is looking for a long-term contract outside of Cincinnati. However, the Bengals do not want to deal him to another team, per the reports.

In 17 games (all starts) last season, Hendrickson tied for second in the NFL with 17.5 sacks. He recorded 43 tackles and also forced three fumbles.

A Pro Bowler in each of the past three seasons, Hendrickson, 29, has amassed 59.5 sacks, 174 tackles, 12 forced fumbles and 119 quarterback hits in 93 career games (64 starts) with the New Orleans Saints (2017-20) and Bengals (2021-23).

New Orleans selected Hendrickson in the third round (103rd overall) of the 2017 draft.

The versatile Hurst, 32, was an undrafted free agent out of the University of North Carolina who played for the Baltimore Ravens (2014-2019) and Saints (2020-23). He started 44 of 90 games for the Ravens, and 51 of 60 games for the Saints.

"Twenty-four of my thirty-two years of life have been spent training for and playing this game and retiring will be a huge, yet exciting, change in my life," he wrote on Instagram.

"Thank you for the laughs and the memories," he wrote to teammates. "Thank you for your effort and risking your bodies alongside me because I can't talk football without recognizing the dangers of the sport and the sacrifices that each of you make. You gave everything to help accomplish our mutual goals and I hope that you all felt the same of me. Many of you became some of my best friends off the field and I'll always cherish our time together."

In his final season, 13 of Hurst's 15 starts were at left guard.

The Heisman Trophy winner at LSU last season was among 13 draft prospects in Detroit a day before the draft with plans to embrace the uncertainty and experience the green room in the Motor City with his peers.

Daniels, a transfer from Arizona State who played on a Sun Devils team with 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and competed against Justin Herbert in the Pac-12, emerged as a potential first-round pick in 2023 with 50 total touchdowns (40 passing) and nearly 5,000 total yards of offense for the Tigers. He's the first player in college football history to clear 12,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards in a career.

But he's also walking into draft night with blinders on, not knowing if he's going No. 2 to Washington or somewhere else.

"I'm blessed to go wherever I'm called," Daniels said Wednesday. "Whoever calls my phone ... (when the) commissioner gets up and says my name, I'll be blessed, and they're going to get my all."

Daniels denied he wouldn't be thrilled to land with the Commanders, a franchise with a revolving door at quarterback since Kirk Cousins left in 2017.

He said during a break as part of a pre-draft appearance with Special Olympics athletes that he would embrace Washington and a chance to work with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

"His track record with mobile quarterbacks -- Kyler (Murray), Pat Mahomes, Johnny Manziel -- speaks for itself," Daniels said.

Multiple reports indicate Washington will have options if the Commanders decide to drop down from the second overall spot. The Bears are expected to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1.

Among the teams reportedly in touch with new Commanders general manager Adam Peters about acquiring the pick are the Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

"We are pleased to announce that we have extended Rashod Bateman's contract through the 2026 season," Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said. "Congratulations to 'Bate' and his family. This is a good day for the Ravens."

Bateman, 24, had 32 catches for 367 yards and one touchdown in 16 games (12 starts) last season.

He has 93 catches for 1,167 yards and four touchdowns in 34 career games (21 starts) since being selected by the Ravens with the 27th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Chase is entering his fourth season and will make a base salary of $1.1 million. His base will balloon to at least $21.8 million in 2025 if a long-term extension hasn't been reached by then.

Chase, 24, has earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his first three seasons. He was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2021.

Selected No. 5 overall in the 2021 draft, Chase has 268 catches for 3,717 yards and 29 touchdowns in 45 games, all starts. He hauled in a career-high 100 receptions in 2023, tied for the second most in a season in team history.

Highsmith, 26, inked a four-year, $68 million extension last July that reportedly included $27.7 million guaranteed.

He was due to earn a $10.7 million base salary in 2024 with a $13.9 million cap hit. Converting a portion of that into a signing bonus will give the Steelers some flexibility for the rest of the offseason.

Highsmith followed his breakout 14.5-sack campaign in 2022 with seven sacks in 17 starts in 2023.

Highsmith has posted 29.5 sacks, 59 quarterback hits, three interceptions, eight forced fumbles and 242 tackles in 66 games (55 starts) since being drafted by Pittsburgh in the third round in 2020.

The deal runs through 2028 and reportedly includes $77 million guaranteed, supplanting Cooper Kupp's $75 million as the highest total among NFL wideouts.

With an average annual value of $30 million per season, St. Brown would trail only Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill's annual compensation of $31.3 million, according to Spotrac.

A fourth-round pick in 2021, St. Brown had been scheduled to earn $3.366 million in base salary in the final year of his rookie contract in 2024.

St. Brown, 24, caught 119 passes for 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 starts in 2023, adding 22 receptions for 274 yards and one score in three postseason games.

The two-time Pro Bowl selection's career totals include 315 catches for 3,588 yards and 21 TDs in 49 games (41 starts).

Howard, who dealt with a nagging foot injury last season, recorded 45 tackles, 12 pass breakups and one interception in 13 games (all starts) in 2023 with the Miami Dolphins. He was released by the club with a post-June 1 designation last month.

Howard, 30, is a four-time Pro Bowl selection and former first-team All-Pro.

He led the NFL in interceptions in both 2018 (seven) and 2020 (10). Overall, he has totaled 29 picks to go along with 331 tackles, five fumble recoveries and four forced fumbles in 100 career games (99 starts) since being selected by the Dolphins in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

The option would have guaranteed the 2021 NFL Draft No. 11 overall pick a $25.7 million salary in 2025.

Fields, acquired from the Chicago Bears in a trade last month, has a base salary of $1.6 million for the 2024 season.

Fields, 25, is expected to back up Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh after going 10-28 as a three-year starter in Chicago.

The Steelers have until May 2 to decide on the fifth-year options for Fields as well as running back Najee Harris.

Fields has passed for 6,674 yards with 40 touchdowns and 30 interceptions and rushed for 2,220 yards and 14 TDs.

Surtain was the ninth overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft and George Paton's first career selection as Broncos general manager. Denver had a May 2 deadline to exercise the option on the rookie contract.

Paton said during the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine that retaining Surtain, 24, would be "one of the easier decisions we'll make."

The Broncos will pay Surtain $6.6 million in 2024, with a guaranteed salary of $19.8 million for the option year in 2025, while staving off potential free agency for at least another year.

Surtain started 15 of 16 games as a rookie in 2021 and snagged four interceptions -- returning one for a touchdown -- and had 14 passes defended. He was a Pro Bowl selection for the next two seasons, also making first-team All-Pro in 2022.

In 50 career games (49 starts), Surtain has seven interceptions, 36 passes defended, one forced fumble and 187 tackles. Last season, he became the first player in franchise history with double-digit passes defended (14, 10, 12) in his first three seasons.

Lynch was held back by his wife that day, but the current GM of the San Francisco 49ers might need to be restrained from jumping headlong into a draft class with depth in the gene pool.

Owens' son is part of the cluster of former pro progeny eager to be selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The best-known sons of former NFL stars on the draft hopeful list this week are Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt. They're projected to be drafted early in the first round. Harrison is the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison, perhaps best known as the primary pass-catcher for Peyton Manning with the Indianapolis Colts. Alt was a high school tight end but moved to offensive tackle after training and film study with his dad, John, who happened to be an expert in the field of OT play from his days with the Kansas City Chiefs (1984-96).

Harrison Jr. said he is still fighting to overcome perceptions from peers and opponents that he's being given something he doesn't deserve because of his dad. On the flip side, he credits the 2016 Hall of Fame inductee and three-time All-Pro for setting "pure perfection" as the standard to achieve from a very young age.

"The work ethic definitely comes from him," Harrison said. "To always push myself to be the best player that I can be."

Lynch, a Hall of Fame safety drafted in 1993, has publicly endorsed the idea of coveting the Jr.'s this week.

Lynch maintains the value of a player's lineage can be critical in a final draft grade and scouting report.

"I believe in bloodlines," Lynch said. "I really do. I mean, I think there's evidence that you should. Then you have to step away from that and you have to evaluate it. And that's sometimes difficult to do and that's why (you need) a lot of different eyes, a lot of different perspectives.

"There's some inherent pressure on who their dad is, but there's also some good genes and I think that matters. And so, it's exciting that you have all these great -- we're talking Hall of Fame players and great players and brothers of players and it's really fun. T.O. was out here at the local pro day and his son Terique performed really well and that was pretty cool. I saw him running at me and I played against T.O. a lot and there was something in that stride that was very familiar. It was something about the gait. And it's crazy how those things translate. Is that just gene pool? Is that modeling the way they watch their dad run? It's interesting to me but it's a fun element to this year's draft that I think is going to be interesting to watch to see how it unfolds."

Michigan defensive lineman Kris Jenkins, the son of former Panthers and Jets defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, is another potential first-round pick. The elder Jenkins was a second-round pick in 2001 and a two-time All-Pro. Scouts circled his name after the Maryland product ran a 5.18 40-yard dash and bench-pressed 225 pounds 33 times at the Scouting Combine at 6-4, 320 pounds.

Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is the son of former Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, a four-time Pro Bowl selection who played in the Super Bowl for Andy Reid in Philadelphia and also had a tour with Washington before returning to Philly. Trotter Sr. was more of a straight-ahead thumper, a run-stuffer from a bygone era, whereas his son was a two-time second-team All-American with the Tigers. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin met with Trotter Jr. at the combine and chatted with him again at Clemson's on-campus pro day.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman didn't identify Trotter Jr. by name but said he'll be fighting emotions not to lean toward "guys with Philly ties, who know what it's like to play here."

"I'm biased towards our hometown players. I'm biased towards the people who have legacy with this franchise. So I think that's hard," Roseman said.

Beyond Lynch and Owens, there are plenty of 49ers connections in the draft.

Running back Christian McCaffrey's brother, Luke, is the son of former Broncos receiver Ed McCaffrey. A wide receiver from Rice, Luke McCaffrey is projected as a mid-round pick.

Brenden Rice entered the draft early following two seasons at Colorado and last season at Southern California, embracing that "pressure" to live up to his father Jerry Rice's legacy as one of the NFL's all-time greats. Rice caught 20 total touchdown passes in three years of college football and attended the Senior Bowl in January. He said he's excited for any opportunity to prove he's "the total package."

Southern Miss running back Frank Gore Jr. was the Most Valuable Player at the Shrine Bowl. Gore Sr. is third all-time in the NFL with exactly 16,000 career rushing yards, ranking ahead of Barry Sanders and behind Walter Payton and Emmitt Smith.

"It's a blessing," Gore Jr. said of following in his dad's footsteps. "I have the responsibility to take it further."

Prescott is entering the final season of a four-year, $160 million deal and cannot be given the franchise tag under terms of the agreement. None of that is bothering Jones, who said the partnership is certain to continue.

"We want Dak Prescott. That's that. The improvement demonstrated (last season) that there's more. We want Dak. We think there is room for growth," Jones said Tuesday in a pre-draft press conference. "Dak, quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, I wouldn't even blink on that."

Prescott finished second in NFL MVP voting in 2023. He said last week "real negotiations" with the Cowboys haven't begun but he has a $55.445 million salary cap hit that could be reduced with a long-term extension.

The 30-year-old has only played for the Cowboys since being drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 draft.

But Jones warned not to judge progress toward a new deal with Prescott by whether they are talking contract before the draft. There are other big fish -- and large contracts -- in the picture for the Cowboys with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb set to play this season on his fifth-year option and pass rusher Micah Parsons in the final year of his rookie deal with the fifth-year team option available to the front office in 2025.

"We'd like to see more leaves fall. We'd like to see more action," Jones said of looming negotiations. "It's called option quarterback. I've spent my life (playing) option quarterback. I want to see some more cards played."

As for the supporting cast in 2024, Jones stood on his statement at the start of the offseason that the Cowboys are "all in," despite being mostly passive observers during free agency.

"We're all in with these young guys ... We're all in with this draft," Jones said.

The Cowboys draft 24th in the first round and voiced confidence they would land an excellent player. In 2022, the Cowboys drafted Tyler Smith with the No. 24 pick and landed wide receiver Dez Bryant in that same spot in 2010.

"We know what we're going to do," Poles said Tuesday at a pre-draft press conference. "Everyone's gotta tune in on Thursday to watch."

The Bears hold the No. 1 pick via a trade with the Carolina Panthers and draft night in Detroit will bring Poles' two-year plan to fruition when quarterback Caleb Williams, the Heisman Trophy winner in 2022, likely becomes the third player drafted first overall in Chicago's storied history.

Beyond the ever-present smoke around the Bears and Williams, there are other reasons the majority opinion holds merit. Chicago has only two quarterbacks on the current depth chart -- undrafted Tyson Bagent and journeyman backup Brett Rypien -- making the position a massive need.

"We're proud of where we've come from," Poles said. "It's going to be hard to make this team now."

When Poles traded the No. 1 pick to the Panthers weeks before the 2023 draft and received a 2024 first-rounder as part of the return package, he said the prevailing thought was to be in position to draft a quarterback should 2021 first-rounder Justin Fields not prove he's worthy of the QB1 role.

Leadership changes in personnel and top coaching spots often drive decisions to move on from quarterbacks drafted by previous regimes.

Fields, drafted 11th overall when then-GM Ryan Pace and the Bears moved up from No. 20 in a deal with the New York Giants, was traded to the Steelers last month to be the backup to Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh.

The new brass has tracked Williams incessantly.

Poles, head coach Matt Eberflus, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and other members of the organization have spent countless hours to reach this point. The Bears met with Williams at the NFL Scouting Combine -- where Eberflus offers prospects the option of playing darts or putt-putt before the more intensive interview begins -- before his pro day workout (where new Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen made an appearance) and were the only team to host Williams at team headquarters for a "top 30" visit.

"The journey to collect all the information is different for everyone," Poles said. "There's guys on our board that are high that didn't come in for a 30-visit that we've had other touchpoints. Our networks in the building know the player inside and out that we really, really trust."

Poles called reports the Bears are shopping the No. 9 overall pick speculation and said he doesn't feel the need to make a trade to add picks despite holding an NFL-low four selections over seven rounds.

"I feel really good with where we're at," Poles said.

Rodgers, 26, has been cleared to participate in all team activities, effective immediately.

The Indianapolis Colts cut Rodgers following his suspension last June and he signed with the Eagles in August.

A sixth-round pick in 2020, Rodgers averaged 27.0 yards on 61 kickoff returns in 45 games with the Colts from 2020-22. He returned a kick 101 yards for a touchdown at Cleveland in Week 5 of 2020.

Following his suspension for violating the league's gambling policy, Rodgers issued a statement acknowledging his mistakes.

"Addressing the current reports, I want to take full responsibility for my actions. I know I have made mistakes, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to repair the situation," he posted on social media.

"The last thing I ever wanted to do was to be a distraction to the Colts organization, my coaches and my teammates. I've let people down that I care about. I made an error in judgment and I am going to work hard to make sure that those mistakes are rectified through this process. It's an honor to play in the NFL and I have never taken that lightly. I am very sorry for all of this."

Former NFL quarterback and local radio show host Brock Huard has flooded the airwaves during the draft cycle discussing Penix's unique arm talent vs. concerns about his injury history. And that debate has expanded nationally, as analysts project Penix anywhere from a top-10 selection to not hearing his name called until Day 2.

That major potential swing is why Penix won't be on-hand with the other marquee prospects in Detroit on Thursday night.

The public has gotten into the action as well, making Penix the most highly wagered-on prospect in this year's draft in various markets. At BetMGM, Penix has drawn the most total bets and money on any individual draft position, with his Under set at 32.5.

That would put Penix on the fringe of being a first-round pick or going to bed Thursday night still wondering who he will be slinging the football for next season. The Under has been backed by 62 percent of the total bets and 79 percent of the money at the sportsbook despite the -250 odds.

Most Bet to go Under draft position (tickets)

1. Michael Penix, Washington QB, 32.5

2. Bo Nix, Oregon QB, 32.5

3. Adonai Mitchell, Georgia WR, 27.5

Most Bet to go Under draft position (handle)

1. Michael Penix 32.5

2. Rome Odunze 8.5

3. Laiatu Latu 16.5

Quarterbacks are typically the most hotly debated prospects, and this year is no different. After the trio of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye, analysts are all over the map in their estimations of where Penix, Nix and J.J. McCarthy will land.

McCarthy has been the second most popular choice at BetMGM, where his draft Over/Under position is 5.5. The former Michigan star has drawn the most Over bets at 74 percent.

Among the three highly debated quarterbacks, favorites to land each of them have emerged.

Las Vegas is the biggest liability for Penix. He has been backed by 24.6 percent of the money to go to the Raiders, who own the 13th overall pick.

Meanwhile, McCarthy is favored to go to Minnesota. The Vikings currently hold the 11th selection and have been backed by 24.6 percent of the money to grab McCarthy. However, the Denver Broncos remain the book's biggest liability in the McCarthy market.

Denver is also seen as a likely destination for Nix. The former Oregon and Auburn quarterback has been backed by 44.3 percent of the money to wind up in the Mile High city, while the Los Angeles Rams are the book's biggest liability related to Nix.

The Broncos currently hold the No. 12 overall pick while the Rams sit at No. 19.

Team to Draft Bo Nix

--Highest Ticket%: Broncos 19.4%

--Highest Handle%: Broncos 44.3%

--Biggest Liability: Rams

--Favorite: Broncos -176

Team to Draft J.J. McCarthy

--Highest Ticket%: Vikings 20.9%

--Highest Handle%: Vikings 24.6%

--Biggest Liability: Broncos

--Favorite: Vikings +115

Team to Draft Michael Penix Jr.

--Highest Ticket%: Raiders 26.1%

--Highest Handle%: Raiders 24.6%

--Biggest Liability: Raiders

--Favorite: Raiders +300

Penix, who turns 24 on May 8, remains the draft's biggest wild card. He has arguably the most natural arm talent in this year's deep quarterback class, but his draft status is murky due to four injuries in four years.

After beginning his career at Indiana, Penix transferred to Washington, a 4-8 program when he signed before the 2022 season. He took the Huskies to the College Football Playoff national title game this year, which Washington lost to Michigan. His two seasons there: 11-2 and 14-1.

But before he arrived in Seattle, he had two season-ending shoulder injuries and two ACL tears. Penix addressed that history in a piece for The Players Tribune this week.

"I hear it all the time. 'He's been injured, what happens if he gets injured again?' Haven't I shown you what that looks like? Haven't I put almost 2,000 plays on tape since my last injury? ...

"Truth is, I'd be more worried if I had never been injured. We don't all come back the same. I can't speak for those that have never gone through anything. But I can speak on me. I've seen how deep my foundation is. I know the storms I'm prepared to weather. For most people that'd be the end of their story. But there's more to my story, and I own every page of it."

With the 2024 NFL Draft scheduled to begin Thursday, the league will not be docking either team draft picks -- should it find one or both guilty of tampering -- this year.

The league confirmed in March that it was looking into the possibility of tampering by the teams prior to the start of free agency. The reviews focus on quarterback Kirk Cousins agreeing to a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons, and running back Saquon Barkley signing a three-year, $37.75 million deal with the Eagles.

The Falcons said in a statement at the time that "due to the NFL's review, we are unable to provide information or have additional comment."

The Eagles denied the claims.