Bearcats 2022 NFL Draft Best Bets

Where will Cincinnati's top prospects fall in the first round?

Author:
Russ Heltman
Updated:
Apr 28, 2022 8:10 AM EDT

CINCINNATI — The NFL Draft is nearly here, and there are plenty of juicy bets involving UC players to take a look at. Here are three of my favorite UC props to bet on in this historic draft for the program.

Over 4.5 First-Round Cornerbacks Selected +110 (SI Sportsbook)

We know Ahmad Gardner (-1613) and Derek Stingley Jr. (-333) are near locks to be top-10 picks. After the first ten spots, Washington cover man Trent McDuffie Jr. is projected to go in the top-20.

From there, all we need is two more cornerbacks plucked off the board, and the odds are trending that way. Kyler Gordon (-130 U32.5), Kair Elam (U32.5 -250), and Andrew Booth Jr. (U29.5 +145) all offer great chances to land at least two more corners in the first round.

Corner is one of the three or four most important positions in the sport. If someone is torn between these prospects and a less valuable position, they often break that tie with positional value.

According to Grinding The Mocks, six CBs have an average mock draft position of No. 33 or better. Take the over.

Ahmad Gardner: O5.5 +120 And No. 7 Pick +250 (DraftKings)

This is a tag team bet and one I would parlay if you were allowed to with draft props. Gardner hasn't been shy about his contact with teams in New York City, and once again this comes back to positional value.

The depth at offensive tackle is slim once the top three players (Ekonwu, Neal, Cross) are gone. The Giants are likely to strengthen their offensive line with one of those three talents at No. 5, knowing that Carolina (No. 6) also needs another OT. I would be shocked if the first six picks aren't OTs, edge rushers, and Stingley to the Houston Texans at No. 3.

Nick Caserio & Co. are falling in love with the LSU player's traits. In the end, the Giants get a player they happily would've taken at No. 5, and Gardner narrowly goes over his projection.

Desmond Ridder: O30.5 -115 (DraftKings)

The pool of QB talent is starting to finally reflect reality as we head into Round One. I thought about putting the under on total QBs in here but the guys in the desert have sniffed that market out. Earlier in the week, you could get the QB O/U at 4.5—now that is down to three and 2.5 in most markets.

It now seems unlikely we see a QB taken until the middle of the first round, and Ridder—the consensus third best QB—will likely be selected within two picks of this line. I lean this way for two reasons: Pittsburgh is the only team in the final 14 picks that needs a QB desperately, and the mocks scream over.

According to Grinding The Mocks, Ridder has an average mock draft slot of 33.8 across 924 mock drafts. The only thing to worry about here is Kansas City moving down at No. 30 for a team to come up and get that fifth-year option by selecting Ridder there.

Although, that risk isn't very high. KC has 12 picks in this draft—including eight in the top-135. Brett Veach is more likely to trade up at various points this weekend than trade down and take on more picks. I could still easily see a team trading up with the Bengals for the right price, or Detroit could pull the trigger on Ridder at No. 32.

Either way, your O30.5 bet cashes with ease.

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