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Chris Meaney
There are hundreds of opportunities to make money April 29 when the 2021 NFL Draft kicks off, and I am not talking about the players having their names called.
There are a ton of NFL Draft prop bets available across DraftKings, FanDuel, PointsBet, BetMGM, William Hill and Tipico Sportsbook. First players taken at different positions, player over/unders, what team players go to, and more.
The first 16 picks and bets are in the books and can be found in Bet the Mock Part 1. Breaking the draft up into two sections allowed me to focus on the most popular bets on the top players of the draft, but I was worried I wouldn’t be able to supply as many bets to the second half of the first round. However, one hour after Part 1 went live, DraftKings Sportsbook added “first position drafted” bets by every NFL team. So now that concern is gone, and the second half of the mock draft can take place.
Reminder: You will notice there aren't any trades. Why is that? Because trying to predict the unpredictable is a fool's errand. When it comes to draft day trades, I am looking at spots that leave me vulnerable to losing a bet and will have no plays because of it, more so than trying to get the trade right and betting accordingly. The odds are stacked against you trying to do that.
(Follow along with all things 2021 NFL Draft with our FTN 2021 NFL Draft Hub!)
Oakland Raiders pick
17. Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
Parsons is an elite athlete with some character concerns playing a non-premium position. There is no doubt he is elite at what he does, and he might grade out as a top-10 player, but adding in positional value really hurts him. We have already seen his line move from 10.5 to 11.5, and there aren't many teams that should consider him in the top 10. The Raiders aren't one to care about positional value and currently sit at +220 to draft a linebacker and at +400 on FOX Bet, the Raiders are currently the favorites to draft Micah Parsons.
Best way to bet: Micah Parsons Over 11.5 — Opening as -150 to be the first defender taken, he currently sits at +200 to be so. He is a freak athlete, but an off-ball linebacker simply isn't worth a top-10 pick in today's NFL. With as many five QBs going top 10 along with Penei Sewell, Ja’Marr Chase and Kyle Pitts all locked into that range as well, that leaves just two options for Parsons. He could hypothetically go to the Panthers at 8, but they are said to be locked in on O-line help or Kyle Pitts. The Cowboys have already spent so many resources on linebackers that Parsons makes no sense there. The only scenario that makes any sense is the Broncos at 9, and I am willing to make a -143 bet that he isn't thenin9th overall pick. In nine of 11 mock drafts posted by experts, Parsons was not the Broncos’ pick. Parsons is in play at 11, but the Giants are said to be most interested in adding another playmaker, and I think that will be the direction they go.
Miami Dolphins pick
18. Kwity Paye, Edge, Michigan
Paye has a good chance to go ahead of Jaelan Phillips and is currently the favorite, but I think a team is going to fall in love with Phillips and surprise people. Either way I think a top pass rusher is an option for Miami here as the Dolphins failed to have a single player record 10 sacks last season. Running back (specifically Najee Harris) is the most common mocked pick here, but the Dolphins have taken an extremely analytic approach and spending premium capital on a running back doesn't fit their mantra.
Best way to bet: Kwity Paye Under 18.5 — In the last five draft classes before last year's extremely weak class, at least two edge rushers went in the top 16, averaging three edge rushers in the first 16 picks and the second edge coming off the board by the seventh pick. Whether Paye is the first or second edge off the board, he is a strong bet for under 18.5.
Washington Football Team pick
19. Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
Let’s review: Washington's biggest needs are offensive line, quarterback, linebacker and receiver. All of the top quarterbacks are off the board; their most commonly mocked offensive lineman (Christian Darrisaw) is off the board; Micah Parsons is off the board. But Bateman, who is rumored to be some teams’ No. 1 receiver on the board, is still there. If the board fell this way, think it would come down to Bateman and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
Best way to bet: Washington First Pick WR +1000 on DraftKings Sportsbook — This is only worth a small play, but the odds are too long for a position of need with a player like Bateman having a real chance to fall in their laps.
Additional bet: Over 4.5 WRs in the first round -182 — With three locks in DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle and Ja’Marr Chase all with numbers of 11.5 or lower, Bateman going top 20 and multiple WR-needy teams at the back end of the draft with multiple fringe Round 1 prospects, this bet provides you with so many outs.
Chicago Bears pick
20. Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
The Bears are a very interesting team because their two most commonly mocked players — Bateman and Alijah Vera-Tucker — are both off the board here. Ryan Pace’s job is on the line this season, their QB is Andy Dalton and they sit at no man’s land for a new man at the position. I don’t expect them to trade up for a QB, I think they are willing to be riskier on a Year 1 impact player because of Pace’s job security so they take this risk on Farley, once a top-10 prospect prior to back injury concerns.
Best way to bet: No bet — There is too much uncertainty with this team, and it's reflected in their odds. O-line, receiver and corner are between +250 and +275, and with that kind of variance and lack of upside in a number, you let it go.
Indianapolis Colts pick
21. Tevin Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State
In 17 of the last 19 Colts-only mock drafts, they took an offensive lineman or a player not currently on the board available. Jenkins has gone between pick 17 and 23 in the last five mock drafts.
Best way to bet: Colts first pick offensive line +120 DraftKings Sportsbook
Additional bet: Over 6.5 offensive linemen in the first round +120 William Hill — I mentioned this in the first half of the draft, but I don’t want it missed. We are just 20 picks in and five of them are offensive linemen already.
Tennessee Titans
22. Azeez Ojulari, LB, Georgia
The Titans were unable to generate pressure last year, and while they added Bud Dupree in free agency, they are still in need for more help upfront. Ojulari has a draft prop of 24.5, so this is the perfect range for him to go.
Best way to bet: Titans First Pick DL +800 DraftKings Sportsbook — The Titans were fourth worst in sack percentage in the NFL, lost Jadeveon Clowney (albeit offsetting that with Dupree), and the three most commonly mocked players to them (making up 34% of mocks) are defensive linemen. 8-1 is awesome value and a strong bet. It is important to note that Ojulari has LB eligibility on DraftKings and would not have this bet as a winning ticket (dumb). Regardless, with so much need at defensive line 8-1 is an extremely strong bet.
New York Jets pick
23. Greg Newsome, CB, Northwestern
Newsome is extremely scheme versatile and the Jets have a massive need at corner and up front at the line. People love to mock a running back to the Jets, but spending valuable capital on an invaluable position when you are so far away from competing is a fool's errand.
Best way to bet it: Jets first pick OL +400 DraftKings Sportsbook — I threw this in the FTN Bet Tracker Wednesday night at +600 and would still bet it at this number. I know I just mocked Newsome here, but hear me out. The Jets biggest needs are corner and all three interior line positions as well as having a very replaceable right tackle in George Fant. Joe Douglas used his first two picks on Mekhi Becton and Denzel Mims last year, giving his new quarterback cornerstones, and he is a known trenches guy. I think offensive line should be the favorite for the selection here and even in a scenario where the bet doesn't hit, I love the value of the number.
Pittsburgh Steelers pick
24. Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
The Steelers have an old-school mentality and believe in workhorse backs. Harris to me is the clear-cut RB1 on the board and has moved from his opening line of +120 to -150 to be the first back selected. With the odds dictating only one back goes in round one, the Steelers make sense as a logical landing spot and are currently just +225 to draft a running back with their first pick, the shortest odds of any team in the league.
Best way to bet: Najee Harris Under 30.5 -110 FOX Bet — Harris is now -150 to be the first RB taken, and a running back in the first round is -225. The number alone feels like a good value, but then looking at 30 most recent mock drafts he was top 30 in 83% of them and a first-round pick in all of them.
Jacksonville Jaguars pick
25. Trevon Moehrig-Woodard, S, TCU
The Jaguars’ second first-round pick first position odds are set at +250 for a safety and +400 for a defensive lineman. If the draft falls this way, they are in a perfect position to either take the draft's best safety or the draft's best interior defensive lineman in Christian Barmore.
Best way to bet: No bet — Moehrig-Woodard is the draft's unquestioned best safety (-400 to be the first safety drafted) and is a likely first-round pick with the odds of over 0.5 safeties in Round 1 sitting at -250. I would consider a bet of -200 on Moehrig-Woodard as a first-round pick, but betting on the Jaguars to take a safety here at just +250 or an implied 28.6% probability is a -EV bet when you factor in that he is the only safety worth taking here and he is only going in 18.6% of mocks to the Jaguars, which would imply odds of +438. Trying to get an exact player at only +250 with the 25th overall pick seems like a great way to lose money.
Cleveland Browns pick
26. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
After adding Jadeveon Clowney, the Browns could look at linebacker, interior defensive lineman Christian Barmore or adding another receiver. This is likely the floor for Owusu-Koramoah, who would be an extreme value for the Browns at 26th overall.
Best way to bet: Under 4.5 Round 1 Linebackers -167 DraftKings Sportsbook — Owusu-Koramoah would be the third linebacker off the board at this point with Ojulari counting as a linebacker, and two more would have to go in the next six picks to lose this bet. Zaven Collins is a fringe first-round player, and the next two players (Jamin Davis and Nick Bolton) are both outside the consensus top 42. This number is as high as -200 on other books and think it will close across the board at -200. With Micah Parsons over 11.5 this is another way to get more action, the steeper he falls the longer the run holds off.
Baltimore Ravens pick
27. Terrace Marshall, WR, LSU
There it is, we hit our over 4.5 WRs drafted in round one. While there are multiple fringe first-round receivers, Rondale Moore, Kadarius Toney and Elijah Moore are slot players, and I think the Ravens need a big body on the outside who can make plays down the field for Lamar Jackson. However, with how they tried to use Willie Snead and Devin Duvernay, a slot option might be very intriguing for them as well.
Best way to bet: Ravens First Pick WR +200 — Marshall is the most commonly mocked player to the Ravens (14%) followed by Rashod Bateman (11%). The Ravens did add the ghost of Sammy Watkins during free agency, but they were in on multiple big-name free agents at the position and missed. This is the team’s most glaring need despite losing Matthew Judon at edge and +200 implies a probability of just 33% they take a receiver, to me it should be closer to 45% probability.
New Orleans Saints pick
28. Asante Samuel, CB, Florida State
Samuel was excellent at Florida State has been meeting with all the teams with late first-round picks (Jets, Colts, Saints, Packers and Chiefs). I expect him to be the last corner taken in Round 1 and the Saints fill a major need with him here.
Best way to bet: Over 4.5 CBs Drafted Round 1 -104 DraftKings Sportsbook — With Samuel getting so much love at the back end of the draft, three corners locked in round one (Jaycee Horn, Patrick Surtain, Farley) and Newsome having huge fans around the league, this seems like a good value that should be closer to -150 than -104.
Green Bay Packers pick
29. Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma
The Packers’ pick will likely come down to receiver and offensive line. They lost one of the league's best centers in Corey Linsley and have a chance to replace him with the draft’s best center in Humphrey. Humphrey finished as college football's most efficient pass blocker in 2021.
Best way to bet: No bet — This pick is likely a true tossup between receiver (+200) and offensive line (+225) and I will let someone else deal with the variance.
Buffalo Bills pick
30. Christian Barmore, IDL, Alabama
The Bills’ pick has the lowest consensus among all teams in mock drafts with Najee Harris leading the way at just 6%. This pick is anyone’s guess right now.
Best way to bet: No bet — I want nothing to do with who the Bills may or may not draft.
Kansas City Chiefs pick
31. Gregory Rousseau, Edge, Miami
Andy Reid has a 23-year draft history, and 31 of 67 top-100 picks have been on corners and defensive lineman (46.2%). While offensive tackle is the obvious glaring need, Reid in his 23 years has only ever taken eight linemen in the top 100 picks, just three in the first round (one of whom was a 26-year-old fireman).
Best way to bet: Sprinkle in a little money on first pick corner (+400) and defensive line (+500), based on Reid’s draft history.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers pick
32. Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
Moore is an explosive player out of the slot and another weapon the Bucs can add to a loaded roster. This might be the hardest pick in the draft to predict with essentially glaring needs.
Best way to bet: No bet — I have no earthly idea what the Bucs are going to do.
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