The seven-round, made-for-TV spectacle that is the NFL Draft returns to televisions across the country in just a few months.
Between April 27-29, hundreds of college prospects will have their lifelong dreams fulfilled, when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell calls their name and shakes their hand, indoctrinating them into the NFL fraternity.
Over the past five years, several states have emerged as the leaders when it comes to churning out blue-chip NFL prospects, including Louisiana.
Thanks in large part to former LSU stars Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Leonard Fournette, along with Alabama star DaVonta Smith and Clemson back Travis Etienne Jr., Louisiana has been front and center come the opening round of the draft.
LouisianaBets.com, your home to the best coverage of sportsbooks in Louisiana, utilized Football Database and NFL.com to determine the birthplace of first round draft picks since 2018.
Football talent hubs Florida, Texas, and California found themselves at the top of the list. Greece had two, while Canada, Trinidad, Haiti, and Guinea all produced one first round draft pick.
Birthplace of First Round Picks Since 2018
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Where Louisiana Ranks Nationally
Overall, Louisiana trails fellow football factories like Florida (19 picks), California and Texas (16 apiece) and Georgia (14 picks) when it comes to the number of first round selections.
In total, the state has put forth 12 players that were taken in the opening round of the NFL Draft, ranking ahead of New Jersey (eight picks), North Carolina (seven picks) and Virginia (six picks).
In the 2021 Draft alone, there were four players that either were born in or played collegiately in Louisiana (Burrow, Chase, Smith and Etienne) taken in the first round, along with 11 others that were taken in rounds two through seven.
Last year, 16 Louisiana players were taken in the draft, with cornerback Derek Stingley of LSU being the lone first-round pick to the Houston Texas.
Of those 11, Burrow has emerged as a legit MVP threat, leading the Cincinnati Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance and making a Pro Bowl, while Chase has quickly become one of the most lethal downfield threats of any wideout in the league.
Smith has been a stud at wide receiver for Philadelphia, hauling in 95 catches for 1,196 yards and seven scores during the team’s current run.
Etienne was a main reason behind the Jaguars’ first playoff appearance in five years, rushing for 1,125 yards and five scores after Jacksonville picked him 25th overall in the draft.
Other NFL stars that hail from the Pelican State include Kansas City running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Minnesota wideout Justin Jefferson, Baltimore linebacker Patrick Queen and Tampa Bay linebacker Devin White.
In this year’s draft, Louisiana sports betting apps think California will move ahead of Texas — at least after the first pick is announced.
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, who was born in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., is a significant favorite to be taken with the first overall pick recently acquired by Carolina.
BetMGM Sportsbook Louisiana lists Stroud at -250. Anthony Richardson, who played at Florida and was born in Gainesville, figures to help his home state pad its lead on the list. He’s +300 to be taken with the No. 1 overall selection, just ahead of Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, who was born in Philadelphia.
