While cornerback isn’t the flashiest of positions that gets NFL Draft bettors’ juices flowing, it’s arguably the most important defensive position in this day and age of the NFL. As tough it is to play any sort of competitive defense with the NFL now predominantly a passing league, team’s that trot a stud cover man onto the field always have an edge going into any matchup. A grand total of five cornerbacks were drafted in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Should a repeat of that tally occur in 2022, online sportsbooks would be paying over tickets across the board with the current number to beat clocking in at 4.5. However, heavy juice is supplanted upon the low side of that impost which lets it be known the cornerback position just might not be offering up the same type of juice it did a short season ago. You can “Sharpie” three stone cold locks with the first 32 selections, but are there two more wild cards that would allow for five to be selected? Let’s put the candidates under the microscope and see if there’s any value in backing the plus-money return on the over.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Total Cornerbacks Drafted in 1st Round
Over 4.5 +120
Under 4.5 -150
In allowing a 41.1 percent completion percentage since first stepping onto campus in Baton Rouge, Derek Stingley Jr. is going to be selected in the first round. Whichever team ultimately lands his services will be greatly appreciative of doing so. The kids a flat-out stud that will help reshape any defense he’s a part of; regardless of only playing 10 games over the last two seasons. I’ve seen him going as high as No. 3 and as low as No. 21 in most mock drafts. Bottom line, Stingley’s going in the first round so we’re a step closer towards going over this number.
The next no-brainer at the cornerback position is Cincinnati’s Ahmad Gardner. “Sauce” as his nickname implies, is arguably the best cover man in the 2022 NFL Draft. Finally getting some recognition for his lockdown cover skills, Gardner was voted to the 2021 Consensus All-America Team and was also named the AAC’s Defensive Player of the Year. The dude allowed a grand total of 131 receiving yards through 14 played games this past year, and never conceded a touchdown over his three seasons! It comes with little surprise to see him the odds on heavy favorite to be the first cornerback taken off the board in Round 1; we’re nearly halfway there.
Up next of the sure things to go in the first round is Washington’s Trent McDuffie. U-Dub’s shut down cornerback only got two full seasons in due to the COVID shortened 2020. But when given the chance to strut his stuff, McDuffie shined en route to allowing just 16 catches on 36 targets that went for 111 yards and no touchdowns. He also broke up five passes. Though on the smallish side, the kids got an engine that will still play well at the NFL level. With so many teams in dire need of cornerback help, his size won’t allow him to slip into the second round. That puts us at three off the board likely just over halfway through the opening round.
This is where things get tricky. Just how willing will teams be to select either Clemson’s Andrew Booth Jr. or Florida’s Kaiir Elam at the tail end with each having some glaring weaknesses? The former was hardly of the shutdown variety in conceding 29 catches for 312 yards on only 46 targets, while the latter showed a knack for having the yellow flag thrown at him in the most inopportune of times. Even so, Elam possesses a prototypical NFL-ready frame and his physicality should be enough for a CB needy team like the Kansas City Chiefs to take a flier. If not him, it’ll likely be Booth Jr. who has some of the best feet in the draft class. I don’t think both get selected in the first round. I also don’t think teams take a shot on players like Baylor’s Jalen Pitre who was a key ingredient to the Bears defensive success or Michigan’s Daxton Hill regardless of him possessing some of the best speed at the position. The heavy chalk attached to the under looks to be warranted in my book. As such, I’ll be putting my money where my mouth is by taking a stab on the under of the total cornerbacks drafted in the first round.
NFL Draft Wager: Under 4.5
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