Where will college football's best and brightest land in the NFL? We're about to find out.
It's time for the NFL draft, which promises plenty of action and new faces in new places. It also brings out plenty of betting opportunities.
Betting analysts Matt Bowen, Liz Loza, Pam Maldonado, Eric Moody, Ben Solak and Seth Walder have you covered, offering answers and analysis to key questions on the draft and providing their picks.
Odds by DraftKings Sportsbook
and subject to change. An "Over" bet means the player goes later than the line, an "Under" bet means the player is drafted earlier.
More: Top 10 picks by odds | Mock draft simulator | NFL futures
Player draft position over/under
QB Ty Simpson OVER 24.5 (-270)
Maldonado: Despite status as the likely No. 2 QB in this class, Simpson's limited experience (15 starts), average physical traits as described by draft analysts and inconsistent late-season film reduce the urgency for teams picking inside the top 24. In a weak quarterback class with no clear separation behind Fernando Mendoza, teams are more likely to wait or pivot to similarly graded positions. Simpson's most probable landing zone is in the second round. But at -270, the "right side" doesn't always correlate to "profitable bet."
LB Sonny Styles UNDER 5.5 (-110)
Bowen: I like Styles to the Tennessee Titans at No. 4 or the New York Giants at No. 5. With his tackling range and 4.46 speed, plus the coverage ability and physical tools at 6-foot-5, 244 pounds, Styles can patrol the middle linebacker spot as an impact defender. Just watch the tape versus Indiana in the Big Ten title game. There's a reason he's being compared to San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner.
WR Omar Cooper Jr. UNDER 23.5 (-160)
Loza: There is a glut of receiver-needy teams picking before the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 23. Not every team will prioritize the position in the first round. However, given Cooper's standing within the class, he figures to come off the board near the midpoint of Round 1. A quick pass-catcher who plays like a running back after the catch, Cooper would be an ideal complement to Garrett Wilson in New York with the Jets (No. 16 pick via IND).
TE Kenyon Sadiq OVER 15.5 (+115)
Solak: Sadiq has two potential landing spots ahead of this pick -- the Baltimore Ravens at 14 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 15. That is not enough outs to pass on plus money, especially because Baltimore and Tampa Bay have incumbent starting tight ends (Mark Andrews, Cade Otton) and would be drafting Sadiq for only a rotational role in 2026. The Ravens have a much bigger need at guard and have been connected to Olaivavega Ioane (Penn State), which would knock out one landing spot.
CB Chris Johnson OVER 32.5 (+165)
Walder: San Diego State cornerback Johnson could absolutely be a first-round player. But the Draft Day Predictor thinks it's more likely than not that he falls out of the first round, with a 61% chance to still be on the board at the start of Day 2. If this were an even-money bet, maybe I'd hesitate off that number alone, but it's not. We're getting +165 to take the over.
Carnell Tate OVER 7.5 (-125)
Moody: Tate falling outside the top seven looks like solid value. He never surpassed 875 receiving yards in a season at Ohio State and wasn't a clear No. 1 option. While talented, he's not a lock at the top, especially with Makai Lemon and Jordyn Tyson in the mix. A slide to No. 8 or later is very realistic.
Which team will draft Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love?
Tennessee Titans (-135)
Loza: I'm going chalk here. Love is widely ranked as the No. 1 overall player in this year's class. Tennessee certainly needs help along the offensive line, and new head coach Robert Saleh will want to remold the team's defense, but Love's talent is too robust to overlook. The Notre Dame product brings difference-making dynamism and a do-it-all skill set to an otherwise lackluster backfield. His presence figures to stabilize the ground the game while giving sophomore QB Cam Ward a legitimate receiving playmaker.
Bowen: I'm with Liz on this one, saying the Titans -- and new playcaller Brian Daboll -- draft Love at No. 4. Love is a three-down offensive playmaker, similar to a Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, with the home run ability to change games.
Washington Commanders (+425)
Maldonado: I'll go with the No. 7 pick, currently held by Washington. Love is being anchored to Tennessee at No. 4, but the Titans have bigger problems (offensive line, edge, supporting a young QB). Taking a running back in the first round is a luxury but not at all a solution. If the Titans stay disciplined, Love gets past the chalk spot. Once he clears the fourth slot, the board opens. The New York Giants aren't forced to take him, the Cleveland Browns likely pass, and then there's Washington with a clear need, no conflict and an easy decision. The draft is betting on a team's behavior. The Titans should go elsewhere.
Arizona Cardinals (+270)
Moody: The Cardinals could select Jeremiyah Love at No. 3, with ESPN's Adam Schefter reporting he is "in play" for the pick. Love brings elite production and explosive upside, totaling 3,476 scrimmage yards and 42 touchdowns at Notre Dame and coming off a 1,372-yard, 18-touchdown season with 6.9 yards per carry. However, Arizona has explored trade-down scenarios and has needs along both lines, making a running back at No. 3 far from certain. That uncertainty makes Love to the Cardinals an intriguing bet at current odds, especially because this draft class is good, but not great, along the offensive and defensive lines.
Ben Solak breaks down Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq as an NFL draft prospect comparable to George Kittle.
Which team will draft Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq?
Carolina Panthers (+310)
Loza: Tampa Bay could beat Carolina to the punch, scooping Sadiq at the 15 spot. However, the Bucs' defense is screaming for depth. Plus, Tampa Bay re-signed tight end Cade Otton to a three-year deal with $20 million guaranteed, signaling a commitment to the vet. Carolina, on the other hand, is in need of playmakers to help elevate Bryce Young. The Oregon product's elite athleticism and touchdown appeal figure to diversify an offense looking for a lift.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+350)
Bowen: Yes, the Bucs did re-sign Otton, as Liz pointed out above. However, let's look at Sadiq as a matchup player in the Tampa offense. At 6-foot-3, 241 pounds with 4.39 speed, Sadiq can press the seams, produce after the catch or align as the backside X receiver (playing the Mike Evans role) to win isolation one-on-ones. He would give the Bucs game-plan advantages.
Baltimore Ravens (+425)
Maldonado: Sadiq is graded around the top 15, with clear separation as the No. 1 tight end, which invites earlier selection. Baltimore is in that window at No. 14, where talent and need align without requiring a slide. The pricing shows that tension. Carolina is favored because of obvious need, but Ravens offer better betting value relative to draft position. Mark Andrews is aging, Isaiah Likely is gone, so the Ravens now lack a true middle-of-the-field mismatch behind receiver Zay Flowers. Baltimore gives you alignment plus price.
Which team will draft Alabama QB Ty Simpson?
Arizona Cardinals (-200)
Maldonado: His most likely landing spot is Arizona, and the price reflects it. At -200, you're paying for a scenario that factors in team fit and draft range, especially with No. 34 lining up clean with his profile. No edge. But if you wanted an interesting betting look, the Jets at +280 could be the route. They have a real quarterback need, no urgency to force a pick early and are in the same range where Simpson is expected to go. If Arizona passes or goes another direction, New York becomes a natural fallback. Arizona is the answer, but the Jets are where the betting value sits.
Los Angeles Rams (+550)
Bowen: This would require the Rams to trade up to the back end of Round 1 or the top of Round 2, but the scheme fit is ideal for Simpson, and so is the QB room. Here, Simpson would get time to develop behind starter Matthew Stafford while learning a system that would cater to his traits as a rhythm/timing thrower. More play-action, boot and defined reads would allow Simpson to play on time at a consistent rate as the future starter in L.A.
Who will be the first cornerback selected?
Mansoor Delane (-4000)
Maldonado: Delane is the clear No. 1 corner on most boards, and the market tells you that. His profile is sharp, the grade is top-10 caliber, and there aren't any real questions, which is why he's priced like a near lock. The problem is the number. It's dead at that price, with the risk being only if something unexpected happens. The only realistic pivot is Jermod McCoy at 14-1. Pre-injury, McCoy had No. 1 cornerback traits and higher-end upside, but a torn right ACL introduced uncertainty. Delane is the right answer, but if you want to take a small swing, McCoy is the only path.
Jermod McCoy (14-1)
Bowen: Delane is the smart play here. And I get that. But with the current odds, I'd be willing to roll the dice on McCoy. Maybe that's at No. 9 with the Kansas City Chiefs or at No. 12 to the Dallas Cowboys. Sure, McCoy missed the 2025 season because of a right knee injury, but he ran in the high-4.3 range at his pro day and the 2024 tape tells us he has first-round traits.
Walder: I was pretty shocked when I saw this price. Delane is the favorite, sure. But after McCoy's pro day, our colleagues Matt Miller and Field Yates wrote that he was in the mix to be the top cornerback selected. I was ready to write this up even without seeing any numbers, but I wanted to double check with the Draft Day Predictor anyway. And sure enough, McCoy has a 22% chance to be selected ahead of Delane, according to the model. So I'll happily take 14-1 here.
Who will be the first offensive lineman selected?
Francis Mauigoa (-230)
Maldonado: Mauigoa wins because he's a plug-and-play right tackle with a cleaner profile and a broader team fit early in the draft. That's why he's favored. Spencer Fano is live as the better athlete, but he is a more scheme-driven type of player. He needs the right team to prioritize traits over stability. Mauigoa doesn't. He fits more rooms without debate, and that wider appeal is what typically gets a lineman taken first.
Spencer Fano (+200), Olaivavega Ioane (18-1)
Solak: I'm fading Mauigoa as the top tackle taken in light of Adam Schefter's recent reporting on his back injury. Mauigoa's best landing spot was also with the Cardinals at 3, and it seems they're increasingly moving toward Jeremiyah Love or David Bailey (if not trading down) -- and if they do trade down to target Mauigoa, that just makes more room for a different offensive lineman to slide in ahead of him. In lieu of a "no" market on Mauigoa, these are my two favorite longer shots for the first offensive lineman off the board.
Monroe Freeling (13-1), Kadyn Proctor (14-1)
Walder: These are two long shots, and I'd want to hit them both. Adam Schefter's report on Mauigoa's injury concerns Monday caught my eye and made me think a world in which he falls could be more likely than the odds currently reflect. Fano would be the favorite in that circumstance, but I don't know if it's as dramatic a difference as the odds make it out to be.
Matt Miller examines a scenario where the Jets trade up in the first round to select Ohio State's Carnell Tate.
Who will be the first wide receiver selected?
Carnell Tate (-200)
Maldonado: Tate is the most reliable option to be selected first because nothing in his profile creates hesitation. He is a polished, outside receiver with strong route details and no medical concerns, which matters early in the draft. Teams picking at the top tend to favor certainty over projection. While Jordyn Tyson's odds have shortened as confidence in his health improves, he still requires teams to buy in to a risk-reward profile. Tate's combination of floor, fit and readiness gives him the widest path to being the first receiver selected.
Bowen: Tate is a three-level glider with the pro-ready traits to create his own separation on Sundays. I'd start at No. 6 with Cleveland as a potential landing spot, with Washington (No. 7) and the New Orleans Saints (No. 8) in the mix, too.
Makai Lemon (17-1)
Moody: Here's a contrarian recommendation. Lemon has a strong case to be the first wide receiver drafted after a dominant 2025 season in which he caught 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns -- and added two rushing scores -- on his way to winning the Biletnikoff Award as the top college football receiver. He posted a high catch rate while still showing big-play ability, and his polished route running and ability to separate against both man and zone coverage gives him a higher floor than Tate, who is projected as a No. 1 receiver despite never surpassing 875 yards in a season.