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

Jason Logan: Senior Betting Analyst at Covers
Jason Logan • Senior Betting Analyst 21+ years betting experience
Updated: Apr 17, 2026 , 09:18 AM ET • 4 min read

We’re cutting through the noise to bring you the ultimate betting blueprint for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (RB11) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Photo By - Reuters Connect. Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (RB11) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.

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!

2026 NFL Draft predictions and best bets

Pick Odds Date made
Eagles first position drafted: OL +115 4/17
Texans first position drafted: OL -140 4/17
Titans draft Jeremiyah Love +200 3/7
Chiefs draft Kenyon Sadiq +400 3/7
Texas Tech David Bailey drafted No. 3 +370 3/7
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Latest NFL Draft bets

Philadelphia position of first drafted player: Offensive Lineman (+115)

The offensive line is the beating heart of what the Eagles’ scheme is all about, but that group is getting older, with plenty of wear and tear over the past few seasons. Philadelphia needs to shore up the next generation of "Tush Pushers" and most mock drafts point to Philly selecting an offensive lineman with the 23rd pick. Names like Monroe Freeling (Georgia), Kadyn Proctor (Alabama), Blake Miller (Clemson), and Caleb Lomu (Utah) are potential targets for Howie Roseman.

Houston position of first drafted player: Offensive lineman (-140)

There are a couple of popular mock drafts that have the Texans taking something other than offensive line help with their first pick. That’s anchoring the price on OL being the first draft position for Houston. But considering their positioning (28th) and the desperate need for protection the past three seasons — as well as a reinvestment in QB C.J. Stroud — all logic says the Texans beef up the o-line. Guys like Max Iheanachor (Arizona State), Chase Bisontis (Texas A&M), or trading up for tackle Spencer Fano (Utah) are listed as options in the first round.

2026 NFL Draft predictions: First Round Mock

Pick Player Odds
1 - Raiders Fernando Mendoza -20000
2 - Jets ???
3 - Cardinals ???

We know Fernando Mendoza will be going first overall... but after that? See who we're projecting when our final NFL mock draft is released on Monday, April 20!

Latest NFL Draft odds

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

2026 NFL Draft FAQ

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Jason Logan Senior Industry Analyst Covers.com
Senior Betting Analyst

In his 20 years with Covers, lead NFL betting analyst Jason Logan has seen it all and bet it all. Through the wild west of early Internet gambling to lobbying for legalized sports betting to our brave new wagering world, Jason has been a consistent source of actionable info and entertainment for squares and sharps alike.

Since joining the Covers team back in 2005, he honed his handicapping skills to provide audiences with the most thorough insights, blending traditional capping methods with advanced modelling and predictive analysis. Jason has studied the ins and outs of the sports betting business, learning from some of the most successful gamblers in the industry and the biggest sportsbook operators on the planet.

He is under center for Covers during NFL season as our top NFL expert, taking the points in his infamous NFL Underdogs column and representing the Covers Community at the Super Bowl. While he lives for football season, Jason's first love is basketball and that shows in his in-depth NBA, NCAA, and WNBA betting breakdowns.

On top of being a mainstay in media from coast to coast at stations like WPIX, PHL17, Fox 5 San Diego, WGNO, TSN, SportsNet, ESPN Radio, Jason's analysis has also been featured in USA Today, MSNBC, ESPN, the Wall Street Journal, CBS, Bloomberg, the L.A. Times, the New York Times and other major publications. You can also find JLo stuffing all the top picks and predictions he can into 10 minutes as the host of Covers' flagship podcast, The Sharp 600.

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