NFL Draft 2026 Best Bets
Cleveland Browns First Position Drafted: Offensive Line (-143)
The Cleveland Browns had the worst pass protection metrics in the NFL last season. They lost two tackles in free agency, and while they did spend some money on two interior linemen (Elgton Jenkins and Zion Johnson), they severely lack talent at the tackle position. Cleveland has a very good defense intact, and the only other glaring needs for the Browns are at QB and WR. This is a deep WR class, so I’m wagering on Cleveland to grab one of the premier tackles in this draft with their first selection. You can sprinkle the first selection to be at wide receiver at appealing odds if you want to cover the next most likely outcome.
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NFL Draft Matchup: Jeremiyah Love vs. Sonny Styles (+200)
There is a lot of draft steam surrounding Jermiyah Love, with rumors of him going off the board as early as #3. While Love is a fantastic player and one of the blue-chip prospects in this draft, players like Sonny Styles are a rare breed. Styles is a converted safety who became a dominant linebacker at Ohio State. He’s an extremely versatile player, which is what I believe many defensive coordinators are looking for in the modern NFL. Styles can be effective as a pass rusher, in pass coverage, and in the run game. The Titans make a lot of sense at #4, but every team in the top 10 could use Styles on their roster. I took a small position on Styles over Love at (+200).
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Arizona Cardinals First Position Drafted: Defensive Lineman/Edge (+125)
Jeremiah Love has worked his way into conversations for Arizona at #3, but I’m not buying into the smoke. The Arizona Cardinals had a bottom-5 pass rush last season despite having a coach (Jonathan Gannon) who is brilliant at scheming to get pressure on opposing QBs. I struggle to understand why Arizona would draft a running back when they have so many other key positional needs. Love to me feels like a better fit with a team that has their franchise QB, and other key positional needs in place. Arizona has none of that. I’m wagering on the Cardinals to take the best pass rusher on the board with their first selection.
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Miami Dolphins First Position Drafted: Offensive Line (+115)
Miami Dolphins First Position Drafted: Defensive Lineman/Edge (+395)
I have two wagers in the Miami Dolphins' first position drafted market. The profits will be minimized by covering two positions, but I feel pretty confident Miami will go in one of these two directions with their first selection. Miami ranked in the bottom 5 in the NFL in both pass protection and pass rush last season. While a shiny new wide receiver may be appealing if one of the big 3 is on the board (Tate, Tyson, Lemon), I’m really banking on the depth at the wide receiver position to swing Miami toward the offensive or defensive line. If you wanted to play this extra safe, you could go with some small wagers on those top 3 wide receivers' exact team to be Miami, all of which have large payouts.
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Player To Be Drafted In The Top 10: Spencer Fano (-145)
Player To Be Drafted In The Top 10: Francis Mauigoa (-135)
I’m wagering on both of the top two tackles in this draft to be taken in the first 10 selections. Nearly every team from #2 to #10 needs help on the offensive line, and these two both look to be franchise cornerstone caliber tackles. Few positions on the field are more important than pass protectors, and it would be surprising to see either one of these guys slip past 10.
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1st Wide Receiver To Be Drafted: Carnell Tate (-135)
Among the top three wide receivers in this class (Tate, Tyson, Lemon), Tate appears to have the fewest question marks. All three are extremely talented and have a case to be the top WR selected. Jordyn Tyson has had injuries throughout the last two seasons and has struggled to stay healthy. Makai Lemon has a smaller frame at 5’11", which could push some teams away from investing early draft capital in him. Carnell Tate looks to be the prototypical WR who thrives in the NFL and comes from Ohio State, a program that has produced some of the top WRs in the league in recent years. I’ll take a flier on Tate to be the first WR selected, with Tyson and Lemon to quickly follow.
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Additional NFL Draft Wagers:
New Orleans Saints First Position Drafted: Defensive Lineman/Edge (+130)
Chicago Bears First Position Drafted: Defensive Lineman/Edge (-145)
Dallas Cowboys First Position Drafted: Offensive Line (+650)
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The Cleveland Browns had the worst pass protection metrics in the NFL last season. They lost two tackles in free agency, and while they did spend some money on two interior linemen (Elgton Jenkins and Zion Johnson), they severely lack talent at the tackle position. Cleveland has a very good defense intact, and the only other glaring needs for the Browns are at QB and WR. This is a deep WR class, so I’m wagering on Cleveland to grab one of the premier tackles in this draft with their first selection. You can sprinkle the first selection to be at wide receiver at appealing odds if you want to cover the next most likely outcome.
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NFL Draft Matchup: Jeremiyah Love vs. Sonny Styles (+200)
There is a lot of draft steam surrounding Jermiyah Love, with rumors of him going off the board as early as #3. While Love is a fantastic player and one of the blue-chip prospects in this draft, players like Sonny Styles are a rare breed. Styles is a converted safety who became a dominant linebacker at Ohio State. He’s an extremely versatile player, which is what I believe many defensive coordinators are looking for in the modern NFL. Styles can be effective as a pass rusher, in pass coverage, and in the run game. The Titans make a lot of sense at #4, but every team in the top 10 could use Styles on their roster. I took a small position on Styles over Love at (+200).
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Arizona Cardinals First Position Drafted: Defensive Lineman/Edge (+125)
Jeremiah Love has worked his way into conversations for Arizona at #3, but I’m not buying into the smoke. The Arizona Cardinals had a bottom-5 pass rush last season despite having a coach (Jonathan Gannon) who is brilliant at scheming to get pressure on opposing QBs. I struggle to understand why Arizona would draft a running back when they have so many other key positional needs. Love to me feels like a better fit with a team that has their franchise QB, and other key positional needs in place. Arizona has none of that. I’m wagering on the Cardinals to take the best pass rusher on the board with their first selection.
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Miami Dolphins First Position Drafted: Offensive Line (+115)
Miami Dolphins First Position Drafted: Defensive Lineman/Edge (+395)
I have two wagers in the Miami Dolphins' first position drafted market. The profits will be minimized by covering two positions, but I feel pretty confident Miami will go in one of these two directions with their first selection. Miami ranked in the bottom 5 in the NFL in both pass protection and pass rush last season. While a shiny new wide receiver may be appealing if one of the big 3 is on the board (Tate, Tyson, Lemon), I’m really banking on the depth at the wide receiver position to swing Miami toward the offensive or defensive line. If you wanted to play this extra safe, you could go with some small wagers on those top 3 wide receivers' exact team to be Miami, all of which have large payouts.
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Player To Be Drafted In The Top 10: Spencer Fano (-145)
Player To Be Drafted In The Top 10: Francis Mauigoa (-135)
I’m wagering on both of the top two tackles in this draft to be taken in the first 10 selections. Nearly every team from #2 to #10 needs help on the offensive line, and these two both look to be franchise cornerstone caliber tackles. Few positions on the field are more important than pass protectors, and it would be surprising to see either one of these guys slip past 10.
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1st Wide Receiver To Be Drafted: Carnell Tate (-135)
Among the top three wide receivers in this class (Tate, Tyson, Lemon), Tate appears to have the fewest question marks. All three are extremely talented and have a case to be the top WR selected. Jordyn Tyson has had injuries throughout the last two seasons and has struggled to stay healthy. Makai Lemon has a smaller frame at 5’11", which could push some teams away from investing early draft capital in him. Carnell Tate looks to be the prototypical WR who thrives in the NFL and comes from Ohio State, a program that has produced some of the top WRs in the league in recent years. I’ll take a flier on Tate to be the first WR selected, with Tyson and Lemon to quickly follow.
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Additional NFL Draft Wagers:
New Orleans Saints First Position Drafted: Defensive Lineman/Edge (+130)
Chicago Bears First Position Drafted: Defensive Lineman/Edge (-145)
Dallas Cowboys First Position Drafted: Offensive Line (+650)
Get all of Ricky’s best bets and unit distributions on the Premium page.
