The NFL Draft begins on Thursday. While Fernando Mendoza's the consensus #1 Overall Pick who will most likely be headed to Las Vegas, there's plenty of more places to look at if you're considering betting on the draft. Here are my "Top 3 Bets To Make & Why" in this season's edition. All odds via. DraftKings Sportsbook. 

While I haven't made a mock draft myself, I believe that the top five should definitely involve Sonny Styles. If you didn't see what this kid did in the NFL Combine, you're missing out. Styles put on an absolute show and in my eyes, he's a "generational prospect at linebacker." Yes, you heard me. Sonny Styles is going to be an absolute stud in no time in the highest level of football & I have zero doubt about that. I know that Mendoza's going #1. But, after that, if I was a GM in the NFL, I'm taking Styles. For me, this guy is better than Avril Reese. Yes, David Bailey is obviously a ridiculous prospect off the edge for those in need of an edge rusher. Because it's the Jets, they'll probably go Bailey. After that? Nobody in this draft is worth it for me ahead of this guy. Getting him at plus-money to get drafted top five is an absolute gift.

Considering the odds of this one, I simply wouldn't pass up on the chance to grab this either, unless it gets wild before the draft begins. Reuben Bain Jr put on a clinic in the CFB Playoff and I believe that he could very well do some damage at the NFL level. In a lot of Mock Draft's that I've seen, among top analysts in the NFL, Bain is a top 10 pick. My top destinations for him would be New Orleans at #8 or Kansas City at #9. With the Saints having lost Demario Davis and possibly could lose Cam Jordan with a matter of time, this looks like an excellent spot for Reuben Bain Jr to help fill a much needed role in the defense here in NO. The Chiefs, on the other hand, would be very ecstatic to have Bain fall to them at #9 in my eyes. They are in need of another pass rusher on the opposite side of George Karlaftis. All things considered, I'll take Bain here to land inside the top 10. 

Even though this last one here requires laying some juice, I believe that this is still excellent value on picking 3+ safeties to be drafted in the opening round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Yes, there's only three that I would choose in the first round - Caleb Downs (Ohio State,) Dillon Thieneman (Oregon) & 

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo.) However, these three should definitely be taken inside the first 32 picks of the draft. Downs is pretty much a lock to go top 15. With Thieneman, he is extremely versatile and can play both in the box and up high. I'm almost certain a team is going to take a chance on him, with the Vikings as a great spot for him at 18. If he was to land there, he would be able to learn behind a vet in Harrison Smith. For McNeil-Warren, he's the least likely of the three to be drafted in Round 1. That being said, I'm still expecting him to be. A 6'3.5" safety with extreme length (99th percentile for safeties,) he also has fantastic run support and ability to force turnovers. As a matter of fact, he had nine career forced fumbles at Toledo, something that will translate fantastically to the NFL game, no matter where he ends up.