2020 NFL Draft Prop Bets: Total Safeties Drafted in the First Round

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The 2020 NFL Draft is an interesting one as far as draft props are concerned. There is a wide variety of prop types to choose from, but some of the most interesting ones are the total players at position ‘x’ drafted in the first round. There are some talented rookies at the safety position, but the debate rages on as to how many (if any) will be drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The current odds for this prop at BetMGM are relatively close, with only four cents juice separating the two options. Let’s dig in.

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2020 NFL Draft – Total Safeties Drafted in the First Round

Over 1.5 (-115)
Under 1.5 (-111)

The Hopefuls

Xavier McKinney (S – Alabama)
Arguably the most talented listed safety in the entire 2020 NFL Draft class, Xavier McKinney is the current betting favorite to be the first at his position off the board. Listed at -200 by BetMGM, if there is any safety that gets drafted in the first round, it may very well be McKinney. His draft position prop at BetMGM has heavy juice on the over 21.5 (-161), which means that he will likely still be on the board at 22nd overall. There is some reasonable doubt as to whether any safety will be drafted in the first round, but it is not due to the talent of the prospects. McKinney is a hard-hitting safety with a slam dunk first-round grade. Whether or not, he, or any safety for that matter, are seen as values in the first round is the real question. 

Grant Delpit (S – LSU)
Grant Delpit is a talented safety from the National Champion LSU Tigers, who should receive long, hard looks in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. As mentioned above, Xavier McKinney is the favorite to be the first safety selected, but Delpit is listed at even money, which means the oddsmakers are painfully aware that more than one team will have Delpit ranked above McKinney. A first-round talent who may get shoved out of the first due to the high-end level first-round talent at other positions, it would be a shame if Delpit was still available on day two.

Delpit is hard-hitting safety with a nose for the football. He would be a good bet to go in the first round in most other draft classes, but this 2020 NFL Draft class is different. In the end, it is likely going to come down to team need, and the best player available approach. If a team who has a need feels he is also the best player available, he is a lock for the first. However, if a team is deciding between him and a player at a position that is not as deep in both the draft in free agency, then teams may decide to go in another direction. 

Antoine Winfield Jr. (S – Minnesota)
The son of former Pro Bowl Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills corner Antoine Winfield, Junior will be looking to follow in his father’s footsteps and hear his name called in the first round. Antoine WInfield Jr. is a ball hawk with exciting range, who is very likely the top safety on the draft boards of more than one NFL team. He is still a longshot to be the first safety selected according to BetMGM as they have him listed at +1100. However, as one of the most complete safeties in the draft, he has an outside chance to be drafted on day one.

Teams Who May Take the Plunge

Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are likely to walk away from the draft with a new safety, but they are no longer a favorite to land one in the first round after signing HaHa Clinton-Dix to a one year deal. They still need a long-term answer at the position, but their needs on the offensive line and at cornerback will likely be prioritized on day one of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans roster is strong enough that they can afford to go with the best player available for the second straight year. The Titans do not have a true need at the safety position, as they have Kenny Vaccaro and Kevin Byard. They also just drafted safety Amani Hooker in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. With that being said, it will be hard for a team like the Titans to pass up Xavier McKinney if the offensive tackles and edge rushers they have a day one grade on are already off the board.

Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins need upgrades everywhere, but defensive end and outside corner. With three first-round picks, using one on a luxury player like Xavier McKinney or Grant Delpit cannot be ruled out. This, of course, all goes out the window if the Miami Dolphins try to trade up for a quarterback and are forced to surrender one of their first-round picks in the process. Miami is reeling at the safety position after dealing away Minkah Fitzpatrick last season, but are more likely to think harder about the position with one of their two second-round picks.

Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders have two first-round picks and have a need for a safety. Unfortunately, the top safeties in this draft class are more free safety types than strong safeties. The Raiders have too many needs on both sides of the ball to worry about the safety position on day one of the 2020 NFL Draft. They are likely to walk away from the draft with at least one, but there is a very slim chance that they select a safety in the first round.

Minnesota Vikings
Antoine Winfield Jr., being drafted by the team his father played for would be a storybook start to his NFL career. The Vikings have a need at safety and have two first-round picks following the trade of Stefon Diggs. However, they have needs at offensive line, corner, and defensive end that are likely to take precedence over the safety position. They will likely wait until the third round to draft a safety with one of their two picks.

Conclusion

There have been at least two safeties drafted in the first round six times in the last 10 seasons. However, the 2020 NFL Draft may be just the first time since 2008 and 2009 when two safeties have failed to be drafted on day one in consecutive years.

As mentioned above, this class is not lacking in safety talent. With that being said, that may be the exact reason that only one (on perhaps none) gets selected in the first round. It does not help matters that the team most commonly linked to a first-round safety in the Dallas Cowboys signed former first-round pick Ha’Sean ‘HaHa’ Clinton-Dix to a one year deal this offseason.

There are at least three safeties with first-round talent, but it is unlikely that more than one received a first-round grade from the NFL’s Draft Advisory Committee. There are no teams with a clear enough need for a free safety for more than one of these intriguing prospects to be drafted on day one. The play here is definitely the under as there seem to be no locks for the first round at the safety position as Isaiah Simmons worked out with the linebackers, and is expected to play there in the pros.

The pick: Under 1.5 total safeties drafted in the first round (-111)

Here are all of our 2020 NFL Draft Prop Bets.

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Raju Byfield is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Raju, check out his archive and follow him @FantasyContext.