Defensive back Terrion Arnold headlines the DB group ahead of this week's NFL Draft. Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

NFL Draft bets: Over/unders on how many corners and DLs go in Round 1

By Griffin Carroll | Last updated 4/22/24

Last week, we explored the NFL Draft betting markets focused on the total offensive positions taken in this Thursday's first round. As we touched on there, sportsbooks are offering us over/unders for a variety of positions and the total amount of players at said position that are among the first 32 names announced on Thursday night.

We turn today to the defensive side of the football, which is expected to see light representation in the first round. DraftKings has the over/under on total defensive players taken on Thursday at just 10.5, priced at -175 to the over.

With such a low number, the over/under window for the defensive positions offered is, of course, lower.

Over/unders worth knowing for defensive players taken in Round One

Odds are courtesy of DraftKings.

Total Cornerbacks Selected in 1st Round

Odds: Over 5.5 (+300) | Under 5.5 (-400)

Cornerback is expected to have a few strong options in the first round. Terrion Arnold headlines the group, and Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean also are locks to go in the first round.

Other popular CB prospects that are commonly mocked into the top 32 include Nate Wiggins and Kool-Aid McKinstry.

I'm not sure we get to a sixth corner, which makes this particular spread on the over/under a bit frustrating to find a wager on.

Daniel Jeremiah has Ennis Rakestraw Jr. inside his top-30 prospects, but most seem to have Rakestraw mocked as an early second-round guy.

If somehow this number dips down to 4.5, jump on the over, otherwise the only value is a slight sprinkle on the over in the event of a run on corners at the tail end of the first.

Total Defensive Linemen and EDGEs Selected in 1st Round

Odds: Over 6.5 (+200) | Under 6.5 (-250)

The only other option expected to be spread out across the first round is along the defensive line, as no linebackers are projected to be Day One guys this year.

The headlining names to know on this group are EDGE Dallas Turner, DT Byron Murphy and EDGE Laiatu Latu. All are expected to go inside the top-20.

Elsewhere, Jared Verse and Chop Robinson seem entrenched as first- round picks, and then there appears to be some split decisions on any other plays going inside the first 32 picks.

By our count, that is only five DL safely going on Thursday night. If we can find an under 5.5 for value, that would be the move, otherwise, under 6.5 has some value as a parlay piece this week.

Betting: Under 6.5, but hope to find an under 5.5 line

Total Safeties Selected in 1st Round

Odds: Over 0.5 (+600) | Under 0.5 (-1100)

The only other position offered for defensive players is safeties, and the markets are not expecting a safety to go in Round One. I don't know the answer to this, candidly, but I'd be curious how these bets are graded if a Swiss Army knife player like Iowa's Cooper DeJean is announced as a safety when whoever drafts him submits the pick.

DeJean can play corner or safety. I imagine he would still count towards the CB count here.

There is no bet to make here.

As we mentioned last week, this draft is going to be headlined by the offensive talent, and we have bets to make on that side, so be sure to check out some of our favorites here.

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