The 2020 NFL Draft will be a pretty low profile event from a spectator standpoint. In fact, there won’t be any live spectators as the event will be a ‘virtual’ draft and conducted entirely via streaming video. What it will lack in terms of entertainment and production values will more than be made up for by what is anticipated to be a record amount of betting on the 2020 NFL Draft. Bookmakers all over the US and offshore have reported heavy betting action from recreational players. This should be the biggest betting event since the Coronavirus sports shutdown began and easily the most heavily bet NFL Draft in history.
Historically, the NFL Draft has been a lightly bet event with most action coming from ‘sharps’. We’ll try to put you on the ‘sharp’ side of some NFL Draft betting props. There’s not much betting value near the top of the draft board so we’ll look for more creative ways to get involved.
2020 NFL DRAFT BETTING PICKS AND ANALYSIS
HIGHEST DRAFTED CORNERBACK
NOAH IGBINOGHENE -150 DAMON ARNETTE +160 CAMERON DANTZLER +600
This prop is from BetOnline.ag. These three cornerbacks are all expected to be third round picks and at this level we want to go with the best price. Not sure why Mississippi State’s Cameron Dantlzer is such a high priced underdog to go first. He’s got the right physical build for the NFL and is the only one of the three taller than 6 feet (6’2″). Dantzler missed three games during the regular season last fall and sat out Mississippi State’s 38-28 loss to Louisville in the Music City Bowl to prepare for the draft. Several teams need secondary help now and based on his superior size alone Dantzler is likely the best prepared to play now. Dantzler is an insane value at this price.
BET CAMERON DANTZLER +600 TO BE HIGHEST DRAFTED
HIGHEST DRAFTED DEFENSIVE LINE
MARLON DAVIDSON +175 NEVILLE GALLIMORE +220 JUSTIN MADUBUIKE +240 JORDAN ELLIOT +400
Another prop is from BetOnline.ag. These four linemen are all expected to go mid to late second round or early third round. Wouldn’t argue with taking the +400 with Jordan Elliott out of Missouri but in this instance the guy at the top of the table looks like the way to go. Marlon Davidson out of Auburn looks to be head and shoulders over the rest of this group. He’s the prototypical defensive lineman that you can build the entire unit around. He played DE in college but will likely move to DT in the NFL. He’s got the smarts and versatility to make the move. Physically, he looks ready to play on Sunday right now–6’3 303 pounds and ridiculous speed for a guy his size. The sports media loves to talk about early round players who will see their draft stock drop–this is a guy who could possibly move up to mid 2nd round status.
BET MARLON DAVIDSON +175 TO BE HIGHEST DRAFTED
HIGHEST DRAFTED EDGE RUSHER
JOSH UCHE -145 JULIAN OKWARA +175 TERRELL LEWIS +450
Another prop is from BetOnline.ag. These players are likely second to third round picks. More specifically, Terrell Lewis looks to be a mid to low third rounder while Uche and Okware should go mid to late second round. In our view, it’s a coinflip whether Uche or Okwara goes first. So why is Uche -145 to Okwara’s +175? The mainstream sports media might be downgrading Okwara due to the broken fibula he suffered last year. That’s an injury he should be able to recover completely from so that shouldn’t dissuade a NFL team. Notre Dame product Okwara has off the charts upside potential–perfect size and length for the position at 6’4″ 252 and has the sort of ‘nose for the ball’ you just can’t teach. Michigan’s Uche is smart, fast and versatile but lacks Okwara’s size. Uche might be a better player to plug into an existing system but sure don’t see the upside in him that we see in Okwara.
BET JULAN OKWARA +175 TO BE HIGHEST DRAFTED
