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The countdown to the 2026 NFL Draft is almost over.
The draft brings hope to fans that brighter days are ahead for their favorite team, hoping that their franchise’s next star player will have his name called this weekend.
While we all want to enjoy the Thursday night draft, how about trying to enjoy it even more by finding a few winning bets?
Let’s take a look.
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David Bailey to be drafted second overall (+275)
After the Las Vegas Raiders selected Fernando Mendoza first overall Thursday night as expected, all eyes will turn to the New York Jets, who own the second pick in the NFL Draft.
This time last week, Bailey — a 6-foot-3 defensive end from Texas Tech — was favored to go second. A few weeks before that, Ohio State’s Arvell Reese was favored as the Jets’ pick. Now the odds have turned back to Reese again and many believe he will be the pick.
While there is support in the betting market for Reese to go off the board here, it is far from unanimous.
Many of the top-respected mock drafts still have the Jets nabbing Bailey, and there’s been enough fluff from the others to make me think this is more of a coin flip than these odds suggest.
Bailey had 14.5 sacks in his final collegiate season and could prove to be an elite edge rusher at the next level. Getting him at almost 3/1 odds and given the uncertainty here regarding this pick, it’s worth a shot.
PICK: David Bailey (+275) will be drafted second overall
Jeremiah Love must be prepared by New York Giants
The former Notre Dame star is widely regarded as the best running back in this draft class and has been considered generational by some analysts. Granted, we heard similar superlatives in recent years to describe running backs Ashton Jeanty and Bijan Robinson.
Regardless, Love is a highly coveted dual-threat running back and is expected to have his name called early Thursday night.
Love is heavily favored to go in the top five, but exactly where he lands is the question.
The Cardinals are the No. 3 pick and will apparently have a chance to nab him. But with a ton of needs, they could also choose to draft whoever doesn’t finish second between Bailey and Reese. If they go with defense, the Titans are next with the fourth pick. New head coach Robert Saleh has a defensive background, and perhaps the Titans choose to build that side of the ball as opposed to taking a running back so early.
That brings us to the Giants at No. 5.
Over the weekend, they acquired the 10th overall pick, sending Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals. Could new Giants head coach John Harbaugh see having the extra pick as a chance to use the fifth pick to help his young quarterback, Jaxson Dart? Dart was hit and often injured last year, and the presence of a potentially elite running back could take the pressure off him, allowing Dart to run less.
Getting long odds on Love lasting for the Giants is tempting, and if he’s there, I don’t think New York will be able to resist.
PICK: Jeremiah Love (+600) to be drafted by the New York Giants
Jermod McCoy draft position Over 32.5 +120
The former Tennessee cornerback would be a lock to be drafted Thursday night if he was fully healthy.
Unfortunately for McCoy, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
McCoy missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from a torn ACL. Reports have emerged this week that there are concerns he will require another operation, this time to repair a problem with his knee cartilage.
This potential surgery would be unrelated to his previously torn ACL as the medical red flags appear to be piling up. Hopefully McCoy can overcome those concerns and have a long and productive NFL career, but for a cornerback who relies on speed and athleticism, there may be too many medical issues for him to go in the first round.
PICK: Jermod McCoy (+120) draft rank Over 32.5
