NFL Draft Betting Picks Ahead of Round 2: Texans Beef Up Cornerback Position

The second day of the NFL Draft might not get as much fanfare as the opening round but there are still future Pro-Bowlers to be picked and NFL Draft betting odds to dig into.

While the Top-4 picks in the opening round went exactly as expected the rest of last night saw the typical amount of draft day chaos. That volatility tends to become even more prevalent in the second and third rounds which is why I'm swinging for the fences with a few plus-money plays.  

Here are my best free picks for NFL Draft Day 2 on Friday, April 26.

First Linebacker drafted

Edgerrin Cooper (+130 at FanDuel)

Edgerrin Cooper has the second-lowest odds after Michigan's Junior Colson but the Wolverines linebacker might be a tad overrated by the public due to playing for the national champions. While Colson has good size and tackling ability, he lacks the speed and versatility that most teams seek in a linebacker nowadays. Cooper was a first-team All-American at Texas A&M and he blazed a 4.51 40-yard dash at the combine. He excels as a blitzer and can drop back into coverage and that elite speed will be an asset in matchups against tight ends and running backs.

It might be worth a sprinkle to consider NC State's Payton Wilson at +650 as well. Last year's ACC Defensive Player of the Year has the size (6-foot-4, 233 pounds), speed (4.43 40), and production to go ahead of Colson and Cooper, and both Bucky Brooks and PFF have him rated as the top LB on their boards.

Second tight end drafted

Ben Sinott (+360 at FanDuel)

Some books have Sinott as low as +200 but FanDuel has him priced at +360 which is fantastic value for the best all-around tight end remaining in the draft. While Ja'Tavion Sanders and Theo Johnson are viewed as more athletic, Sinott's 4.68 40-yard dash and 40-inch vertical at the combine proved that he's pretty damn athletic in his own right. The Kansas State TE is also a better blocker than Sanders and Johnson, and he's a polished receiver that runs very good routes and has the ability to pile up yards after the catch.

First running back drafted

Jaylen Wright (+3,000 at FanDuel)

This is obviously a long shot but one that might have a decent chance of hitting so I'm putting half a unit on it. There doesn't seem to be much difference between the Top-5 running backs available. While Jonathan Brooks is the consensus best RB, he only had one productive season at Texas and hasn't been able to work out for teams since he's coming off a torn ACL. Blake Corum had the most impressive college career of the RBs at the top of the board, but he lacks size and speed.

Wright was productive in the SEC, has solid size at 210 pounds, and lit up the combine with a 4.38 40-yard dash and 38-inch vertical. He has the explosiveness and pass-catching ability that modern offenses covet. In a draft with no standout running backs, the first to come off the board could come down to fit over talent which could make Wright the right choice for many teams.

Position of Texans first player drafted

Cornerback (+380 at FanDuel)

FanDuel currently has defensive lineman/edge as the odds-on favorite here at -140 but Chad Reuter, Sharp Football, and CBS all have cornerback listed as a higher need for Houston. After drafting Will Anderson last year and inking Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter to a massive contract in the offseason, the Texans are less desperate at edge. While they could still use an upgrade on the interior, Jer'Zhan Newton might be the only DT worth considering at No. 42 while multiple corners would bring value at that spot. 

Alabama's Kool-Aid McKinistry and Iowa's Cooper DeJean were both considered first-round talents and there was even speculation that Houston would trade back into the first to grab McKinistry. Texans GM Nick Caserio has a history of moving up to target players he likes and in recent years that has included other Alabama players like John Metchie, Christian Harris, and Anderson. 

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