NFL Draft Day 2 preview: Best bets, full analysis
With Day 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft already complete, it’s time to take a look at what could be in store for Day 2 in Detroit.
The Buffalo Bills are currently slated to make the first pick of the second round on Friday night, but that is subject to change. The Bills acquired this pick by trading back twice on Thursday night.
Several high-level prospects, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, still remain on the board for teams to select on Day 2. The list includes former Iowa DB Cooper DeJean, former Alabama DB Kool-Aid McKinstry and former Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper.
Here are 5 prop bet picks for Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft:
Jonathon Brooks to be the first RB taken
As expected, there were no running backs taken in the first round of the draft on Thursday night.
Former Texas running back Jonathon Brooks appears to be in position to be the first player at his position off the board on Friday. Brooks, who is coming off of a season-ending knee injury, rushed for a career-high 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns in a shortened 2023 campaign.
Brooks has long been thought of as the top running back in this class, but Cowboys owner Jerry Jones may have unwittingly given another boost to his draft stock on Thursday night.
“In my 30 years I thought he was the best interview that I’ve ever interviewed with a player,” Jones said, much to the dismay of the other Cowboys executives sitting at the table. “He’s outstanding. He’s just outstanding. He’s a great football player. We’ve got him high, high, high [on our board].”
It is difficult to tell what the Cowboys think of former Texas RB Jonathon Brooks.
He has yet to be drafted. pic.twitter.com/qNRgMqZeSD
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) April 26, 2024
The Cowboys pick at No. 56 overall, so they may need to move up if they want to keep the former Longhorn in-state. But it seems Dallas is motivated to do so. Additionally, Jones’ comments may alter how other teams approach their Day 2 strategy.
The Athletic has Brooks mocked to Dallas at No. 56 in their updated mock for Friday. The Athletic’s mock doesn’t have any other running backs projected in Round 2.
It’s worth noting that FanDuel is offering Brooks to be drafted by the Cowboys at +280.
PICK: Jonathan Brooks to be the first RB taken (-150 at DraftKings).
States: NY, NJ, PA, CT, AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NH, OH, OR, TN, VA, WV, WY
Blake Corum draft position over/under 82.5
Blake Corum is widely-regarded as one of the top running backs in this class. It also helps his draft stock considerably that his former head coach is now leading a team with a couple of key Day 2 selections.
According to a report from ESPN’s Dan Graziano earlier this week, the Chargers plan to “do what it takes” in order to select Corum in this draft.
Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers are currently slated to pick at Nos. 37 and 69 on Friday. Picking Corum at No. 37 would be a reach, but taking him just inside the top-70 feels much more reasonable.
Of course, there are several other teams who could be looking to take a running back on Day 2 who would presumably have interest in the former Wolverine.
Corum is also currently +260 to be drafted by either the Chargers or Giants, per FanDuel. The Giants enter Friday with picks 47 and 70 on Day 2.
PICK: Blake Corum draft position under 82.5 (-105 on bet365)
Keon Coleman vs. Ja’Lynn Polk
Several sports betting apps are currently offering odds on who will be picked first between receivers Keon Coleman and Ja’Lynn Polk.
Coleman is the favorite, and for good reason: it’s a surprise to some that he’s even still on the board as Day 2 of the draft begins. Coleman, who had a standout season at Florida State in 2023, was mocked by some experts as a potential first round pick.
This is a deep class at wide receiver, and clearly there’s some subjectivity involved in scouting this position from team-to-team. Xavier Worthy, Ricky Pearsall and Xavier Legette all went in Round 1, although none were consensus Day 1 options entering Thursday.
So there’s certainly some volatility in a prop like this. However, the consensus seems to be that Coleman is a significantly better prospect than Polk. The Athletic’s Day 2 mock has Coleman going 37 spots — a full round — higher than Polk. The NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein has 26 spots between Coleman and Polk.
Given the discrepancy, I’m OK with laying big juice on this prop.
PICK: Keon Coleman to be drafted before Ja’Lynn Polk (-250 on bet365)
States: AZ, CO, IA, IN, KY, NJ, LA, OH, VA
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER (CO/KY/LA/NJ/OH/VA) and 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA) 21+ (CO/IA/NJ/OH/VA) and 18+ (KY)
Spencer Rattler draft position over/under 75.5
After 6 quarterbacks went off the board in the first 12 picks, it may be awhile before the next signal caller comes off the board.
When that time does come, former South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler is expected to be the pick. Rattler was a 5-star prospect who began his career at Oklahoma before moving on to a productive couple of seasons with the Gamecocks.
Rattler is a bit undersized, but still represents the cream-of-the-crop of QB prospects available on Day 2. Given the trend of teams reaching for quarterbacks in this class, I think it’s worth taking a shot that Rattler goes in the top-75.
Plus, there’s value relative to other books. Rattler is +140 and +180 to go in the 2nd round at DraftKings and FanDuel, respectively. With this bet365 prop, you get the second round plus the first 11 selections in Round 3.
PICK: Spencer Rattler draft position under 75.5 (+150 on bet365)
Cooper DeJean vs. Kool-Aid McKinstry
We’ll close this out with another head-to-head matchup between DeJean and McKinstry.
Both cornerbacks could have been selected in the first round, but ended up falling to Day 2 as a result of the historic run on quarterbacks and offensive players. DeJean and McKinstry are the consensus best cornerbacks available entering Friday.
There have been questions through the pre-draft process about whether or not DeJean will stick at cornerback or ultimately have to move to safety at the next level. There are no such questions about McKinstry, who proved himself as one of the best corners in the SEC over the past couple of seasons.
This feels like a toss-up to me. DeJean could very well end up being the first CB off the board in Round 2, but I like McKinstry at plus-money.
Pick: Kool-Aid McKinstry to be drafted before Cooper DeJean (+134 on FanDuel)
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Congrats to Ladd McConkey, UGA receiver, #2 in round 2 to the Chargers.
Glad for McConkey and UGA. Highest WR draft since, Pickens? Chargers are lucky to have him.
If Rattler came off the board last night I must have missed it. Just before the 100th player came off the board, next highest picks by some from the sports mind was TN’s Joe Milton and Wright. I think Joe Milton or Rattler are the next QB’s chosen, but all three mentioned will probably go in the 4th round. So, they would be the what, 7th or 8th QB’s drafted?