NFL Draft Odds: Patrick Surtain II Favored to Be First Defensive Player Picked

• Patrick Surtain II has -135 odds to be first defensive player off the board.
• Micah Parsons (+325) and Jaycee Horn (+400) are the next most likely options.

CLEVELAND – The 2021 NFL Draft is only a couple of weeks away and amongst all of the news about which quarterback will be taken at which pick, there’s an opportunity for people betting on the NFL Draft to take a look at the defensive side of the ball as well.

Patrick Surtain II is the current favorite to be the first defensive player taken in the draft, but a couple of other talented defensive players could see their names be called first as well.

Is Patrick Surtain II a Lock?

Patrick Surtain II is coming out of Alabama listed at 6’2” and 208 lbs. which is incredible size for an NFL defensive back. He is viewed as the most NFL-ready corner and has the size, speed, length and talent that should translate well on Sundays.

Barring trades, most mock drafts have Surtain being the first defensive player off the board at either No. 8 to the Carolina Panthers or at No. 10 to the Dallas Cowboys.

With that being said, there is a great possibility that either of those teams decide to trade their picks to a team looking for a QB or any other reason. However, indications point towards Surtain not getting past the Cowboys at No. 10. Getting Surtain at -135 odds seems like a fair price, but it is far from a lock.

2021 NFL Draft - First Defensive Player Drafted Betting Odds

• Patrick Surtain II -135
• Micah Parsons +325
• Jaycee Horn +400
• Kwity Paye +500
• Jaelan Phillips +1400

Is Micah Parsons or Jaycee Horn the Better Pick?

Micah Parsons (+325)

There’s a lot of people that believe that Penn State’s Micah Parsons is the most talented defensive player in the draft. However, he has had some off-the-field issues that could leave teams worried about using a high pick on him.

Parsons is a DE-turned-LB who was a consensus All-American in his sophomore season at Penn State before opting out of the 2020 season. The most likely scenario in which Parsons’ odds of +325 cash would be to the Denver Broncos with the ninth overall pick.

Jaycee Horn (+425)

Jaycee Horn out of South Carolina has been a relevant name for a while, but really started to jump off of the page because of his combine. Horn recorded a 4.39 40-yard dash, a 41.5-inch vertical as well as a 11”1’ broad jump.

Those betting on Horn at NFL sportsbooks may truly just be betting on the Cowboys preferring Horn over Surtain. It seems as there will only one or two defensive players drafted in the top 10 picks at the maximum, and the consensus seems to be Surtain is the top defensive back to draft.

How to Watch

The first round of the 2021 NFL Draft will air on Thursday, April 29 at 8 p.m. EST on ABC, ESPN, and the NFL Network.