NFL Draft best bets: Who will be the first cornerback drafted?

Breaking down the 2023 NFL Draft odds around the first cornerback to be selected and tabbing the best bets with picks and predictions.

The 2023 NFL Draft begins Thursday evening and one of the more talented positions is cornerback, where there is quality talent for all 3 days.  Below, I analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s draft odds for NFL prospects and tab who will be the first cornerback drafted — just part of SportsbookWire’s many expert picks and predictions among our NFL best bets.

As many as 5 cornerbacks could be selected in the 1st round on Thursday.  However, there are only 2 top players who will likely get selected in the top 10.

Let’s look at what the odds say.

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NFL odds: First cornerback drafted

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 7:26 a.m. ET.

  • Devon Witherspoon: -300 (bet $200 to win $100)
  • Christian Gonzalez: +200 (bet $100 to win $200)
  • Joey Porter Jr.: +2500 (bet $100 to win $2,500)
  • Brian Branch: +8000 (bet $100 to win $8,000)
  • Deonte Banks: +8000
  • Kelee Ringo: +8000
  • Cameron Smith: +8000

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NFL Draft: Best bets

The pick – DEVON WITHERSPOON (-300)

This is not a value pick. Witherspoon has been viewed as a guy that is going to be drafted higher than expected. The team most connected to Witherspoon are the Detroit Lions, who have the 6th pick (and the 18th) in the 1st round. They just traded Jeff Okudah, their 2020 first-round selection, to Atlanta. They need help in the defensive backfield.

Worth a shot – CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ (+200)

Gonzalez is longer than Witherspoon at 6-foot-1 and had elite athletic testing at the NFL combine, running the 40 in 4.38 seconds with explosive jumps (41.5-inch vertical and 11-foot-1 broad jump).

Keep an eye on the Seattle Seahawks, who pick in Round 1 right before the Lions at No. 5 (they also have the 20th pick). He played collegiately in the Pacific Northwest at Oregon and Seattle has enjoyed taller cornerbacks in the past.

Gonzalez and Witherspoon are s cut above all the other cornerbacks in the draft. There is no real reason to consider any other. It will be a surprise if any other is selected in the top 10.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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