2026 NFL Draft Predictions & Best Bets: Mock Draft, Odds, and Expert Picks

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The 2026 NFL Draft odds are a goldmine for bettors and a franchise-altering crossroads for all 32 teams. The Las Vegas Raiders appear locked in on Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza at No. 1, but the real drama begins the moment he leaves the board.

From the "blue-chip" defensive battle between Arvell Reese and David Bailey, to a historically deep class of offensive tackles, the volatility of this year's board is creating massive value in the betting markets.

Whether you're hunting for long-shot props on the first non-quarterback selected or looking for the latest expert mock draft to sharpen your picks, you've come to the right place. We're tracking every line movement, scout's whisper, and late-climbing sleeper to give you the edge. Now let's get to work!

• UPDATE: Added more best bets + Jason Logan's final mock draft.

2026 NFL Draft predictions and best bets

Pick	Odds	Date made
Lemon drafted before Tyson	+400	4/20
first position drafted: DB	+100	4/20
first position drafted: DL/EDGE	-144	4/20
first position drafted: OL	+104	4/20
first position drafted: OL	+115	4/17
first position drafted: OL	-140	4/17
draft Jeremiyah Love	+200	3/7
draft Kenyon Sadiq	+400	3/7
David Bailey drafted No. 3	+370	3/7

Latest NFL Draft betsMakai Lemon drafted ahead of Jordyn Tyson (+400)

All signs point to the Los Angeles Rams adding a receiver - if they don't deal the No. 13 pick. The Rams don't have to look far, as Southern Cal's shifty WR could be the perfect complement to Puka Nacua and Davante Adams - at 5-foot-11, Lemon slides into the slot and follows the path of Cooper Kupp in Sean McVay's offense.

Seattle position of first drafted player: Defensive back (+100)

Tariq Woolen left a hole in the Seahawks' championship secondary when he bounced in free agency. Tennessee CB Colton Hood finds himself going to Seattle in a number of popular mock drafts, especially considering the Seahawks only have four picks total. His tackling is what really appeals to Mike Macdonald's defense.

2026 NFL Draft predictions: First Round Mock

Pick	Player	Odds
1 -	Fernando Mendoza	-20000
2 -	???
3 -	???

We know Fernando Mendoza will be going first overall... but after that? See who we're projecting in our final NFL mock draft!

Latest NFL Draft oddsOdds to be No. 1 overall pick

Not much analysis is needed here: Fernando Mendoza is -10000 (and as short as -20000 at some books) to be the first name called on April 23.

Odds to be No. 2 overall pick

Player (Position)	Odds
David Bailey (EDGE)	-160
Arvell Reese (EDGE)	+120
Sonny Styles(LB)	+3000
Rueben Bain Jr.(EDGE)	+6500
Jeremiyah Love (RB)	+6500

The New York Jets are almost assuredly taking one of the premier EDGE rushers in the draft - it's just a matter of whether it's Ohio State's Arvell Reese or David Bailey from Texas Tech. Reese was -165 to go here a month ago, but it's now flipped to Bailey being the strong favorite to land in East Rutherford.

Odds to be No. 3 overall pick

Player (Position)	Odds
Arvell Reese (EDGE)	+125
David Bailey (EDGE)	+225
Francis Mauigoa (OT)	+550
Jeremiyah Love (RB)	+700
Sonny Styles(LB)	+1100

Arizona has plenty of holes, including quarterback, but Ty Simpson is too much of a reach here - so the Cardinals are projected to take whichever premier pass rusher the Jets pass on.

Odds to be No. 4 overall pick

Player (Position)	Odds
Jeremiyah Love (RB)	+100
David Bailey (EDGE)	+500
Sonny Styles(LB)	+600
Arvell Reese (EDGE)	+600
Rueben Bain Jr.(EDGE)	+1000
Carnell Tate(WR)	+1000

Tennessee is projected to give young QB Cam Ward another offensive weapon, sitting at even money to take the best running back available in the draft.

Odds to be No. 5 overall pick

Player (Position)	Odds
Sonny Styles (LB)	+175
Caleb Downs (S)	+330
Francis Mauigoa(OT)	+380
Jeremiyah Love (RB)	+550
Carnell Tate (WR)	+1000

The other New York team will likely be looking at a best-player-available scenario, with combine riser Sonny Styles - or his Buckeyes teammate Caleb Downs, the premier safety in the draft - the current favorites to be John Harbaugh's first selection as the Giants head coach. He could also take a tackle to protect franchise QB Jaxson Dart, as Francis Mauigoa is also in the mix based on the odds.

2026 NFL Draft betting market analysis

There is no shortage of ways to bet on the NFL Draft - here is a list of the types of bets commonly found at major sportsbooks.

Pick Number odds

As seen above, you can bet on which player will be taken in each specific spot, generally ranging from "who will go No. 1" through to the No. 1 pick. You can also select whether a player will be:

• Drafted in Round 1
• Drafted in the Top 5/10

Position-specific odds

You can bet on who will be the first (and sometimes second, third, and fourth) player selected at each key position, such as:

• First QB drafted.
• First RB drafted.
• First WR drafted.
• First TE, OL, DE, LB, CB, S as well.
• What position will Mr. Irrelevant be?

Player-specific odds

You can also bet on which team will specifically draft a player, as well as their draft position Over/Under including:

• Who will draft Arvell Reese, Rueben Bain Jr., and David Bailey?
• Who will draft Jordyn Tyson, Makai Lemon, and Carnell Tate?
• Who will draft Carson Beck and Garrett Nussmeier?
• Caleb Downs draft position Over/Under 9.5 spots
• Omaer Cooper Jr. Over/Under 23.5 spots

Team-specific odds

Also available is what position a team will select first, such as:

• Will Kansas City select an offensive lineman, running back, cornerback/safety, or quarterback first?
• Will Arizona select a running back, quarterback, cornerback/safety, tight end, or defensive lineman first?

Other NFL Draft props

Overall draft Over/Unders are also available to bet, such as:

• Over/Under 1.5 quarterbacks selected in the first round.
• Over/Under 4.5 cornerbacks selected in the first round.
• Over/Under 15.5 offensive players selected in the first round.
• Over/Under 11.5 Big Ten players selected in the first round.

2026 NFL Draft schedule

Event	Date
Round 1	April 23 @ 8 pm ET
Rounds 2-3	April 24 @ 7 pm ET
Rounds 4-7	April 25 @ 12 pm ET

The 2026 NFL Draft officially kicks off on Thursday, April 23 at 8 pm ET at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. Each team will have eight minutes on the clock during Round 1. That time limit ticks down on Day 2 to seven minutes per selection, and drops again to five minutes per selection on Day 3.

2026 NFL Round 1 draft order

Pick	Team
1	Las Vegas Raiders
2	New York Jets
3	Arizona Cardinals
4	Tennessee Titans
5	New York Giants
6	Cleveland Browns
7	Washington Commanders
8	New Orleans Saints
9	Kansas City Chiefs
10	Cincinnati Bengals
11	Miami Dolphins
12	Dallas Cowboys
13	Los Angeles Rams (from ATL)
14	Baltimore Ravens
15	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
16	New York Jets (from IND)
17	Detroit Lions
18	Minnesota Vikings
19	Carolina Panthers
20	Dallas Cowboys (from GB)
21	Pittsburgh Steelers
22	Los Angeles Chargers
23	Philadelphia Eagles
24	Cleveland Browns (from JAX)
25	Chicago Bears
26	Buffalo Bills
27	San Francisco 49ers
28	Houston Texans
29	Kansas City Chiefs (from LAR)
30	Miami Dolphins (from DEN)
31	New England Patriots
32	Seattle Seahawks

The 2026 NFL Draft order starts with the reverse order of the previous season's standings with the worst teams picking first, and the Super Bowl champion picking last. If teams finish with the same record, the first tiebreaker is strength of schedule, with the easier schedule picking earlier.

That's why the lowly Las Vegas Raiders are No. 1 after finishing 3-14, while the Seattle Seahawks are No. 32 as Super Bowl LX champions. Trades can move picks between teams, but the original slot is still based on record, playoff finish, and league tiebreakers.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.