The Star-Studded 2021 Draft

The NFL Draft is here and it is time to get excited. Yes, the first two picks are all but certain with Trevor Lawrence to the Jaguars and Zach Wilson to the Jets. However, after those two picks, there is a lot of mystery surrounding the first round. It all starts with the San Francisco 49ers, Kyle Shanahan, and their decision on the next quarterback to wear that iconic red and gold. Will they take the National Champion Mac Jones from Alabama who had a historic season? Or will they decide to go down another route and take Trey Lance or Justin Fields? Where will Kyle Pitts go? Who will go in the top five?

Well, no one has the answer for sure, so I am going to try and help you. I have looked at five of my favorite prop bets that I am going to place for Thursday night. Last year I got very lucky and hit on Andrew Thomas to the Giants at fourth overall and we ate well that night. I promise I will give value bets and not give whale plays like Trevor to be first overall at -100,000. Now before I give out the props I want to be transparent. I am looking at these at 6:30 PM eastern time on 4/27. We know reports can come out and really ruin odds but these are the bets I took and if the odds change heavily I apologize. I will be using Bovada for these prop bets. Well sorry for making you wait and here we go!

NFL Draft: Mac Jones -200 3rd Overall Pick

Well, we begin with the third overall pick. There have been many reports on this one debating Mac Jones, Trey Lance, and Justin Fields. Shanahan has come out and said that they will be taking their QB for the future in the draft on Thursday so the only surprise is who? Many reports have said that Shanahan loves Mac Jones. Many people around the league believe that, at the end of the day, this has to be the pick. 49ers GM John Lynch has given his blessing to Shanahan saying he has the last say on the pick.

Now I am not going to debate you on whether or not Mac Jones is the right pick. I do not know and you do not know. What I do know is that Shanahan has a guy he wants in Jones, and I really feel confident in them taking him at three. Obviously, -200 is not great value and I promise I have some better picks but this seems like a forgone conclusion at this point.

NFL Draft: Kyle Pitts -150 4th Overall Pick

I personally think this should be the pick. He is the best player in the draft outside of quarterbacks and he had a monster last season at Florida. He is a once-in-a-generation talent and Atlanta’s offense would be incredible at WR and TE. Kyle Pitts is a beast and should be taken in the top five no matter what. The only way this pick does not happen would be because of a trade to a QB needy team. At -150, Pitts is not bad value at all, take it and be confident.

NFL Draft: Penei Sewell Even Odds in the Top 5

This is my first value pick and I think it makes too much sense. Joe Burrow tore his ACL last year and the Bengals are hoping that he can get back healthier than ever. Many will want the Bengals to get a sexy weapon for Burrow but what is the point if he cannot stand upright? Insert Penei Sewell, the offensive tackle from Oregon. He was an All-American in 2019 and was also the Outland Trophy winner the same year. Sewell has great size being 6’6″, 330 lbs and would be a mammoth protecting Burrow. I think this pick is the one to make in order to keep Joe Burrow healthy. Look at the Colts, they are kicking themselves for never protecting Andrew Luck. Do not make the same mistake Cincinnati.

NFL Draft: Ja’Marr Chase Even Odds Over 5.5

Ja’Marr Chase had a wonderful 2019 season with Joe Burrow and proved his worth to all of the NFL. He sat out the whole 2020 season and is still ranked as the number one WR on draft boards, so do not expect him to fall too much. However, based on my reasoning for Penei Sewell and Kyle Pitts, I believe Ja’Marr chase is the odd one out in the top 5. He won’t fall far though and an additional pick is Ja’Marr Chase to be taken by Miami +225.

NFL Draft: Jaylen Waddle +500 to Giants

I like this pick a lot for the main reason that I believe Jaylen’s teammate Devonta Smith will slide. Both of these WRs will be good in the NFL but sadly, I believe Smith will fall later in the teens on Thursday because of his size. I believe Smith will be good but I think that weighing in at 166 lbs will put him at a disadvantage unfairly during the draft process. Jaylen has better size at 182 lbs and is around the same as Devonta on many mock drafts which helped me decide on this as a good value pick.

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