The 2024 NFL Draft features a deep class of cornerback prospects. Combating modern-day NFL offenses by rostering three or more competitive cornerbacks has become a popular strategy for defensive coordinators around the league. Cornerbacks are expected to fly off the board as a result.
With the draft approximately two and a half weeks away, FanDuel recently updated their betting odds for the first cornerback drafted. We've identified the odds-on favorite, underdogs worth backing, and other prospects with a legitimate opportunity to earn the honor. The top betting options are as follows:
Quinyon Mitchell (-210)
Terrion Arnold (+185)
Cooper DeJean (+2000)
Nate Wiggins (+2500)
Kool-Aid McKinstry (+5000)
Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (+6000)
T.J. Tampa (+7500)
THE FAVORITE AND MY PICK: QUINYON MITCHELL
Forget just cornerbacks. Has any prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft enjoyed a more successful process than Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell? Scouts were already intrigued by Mitchell, who recorded a program-record 46 career breakups for the Rockets. Decision-makers wanted to see how Mitchell would fare against better competition, however.
Mitchell answered those elephant-in-the-room questions by traveling down to Mobile. He was arguably the best overall player at this year's Senior Bowl. Mitchell continued seizing momentum by running a 4.33 40 at the NFL Combine. Mitchell also had a 38-inch vertical.
Mitchell has checked every box throughout the process. He's understandably FanDuel's favorite to be the first cornerback drafted. Mitchell is receiving top-15 attention.
THE NO. 1 CONTENDER: TERRION ARNOLD
It's been neck-and-neck for me between Mitchell and Terrion Arnold for CB1 throughout this process. I thought Arnold was the best overall pure cornerback I scouted this fall. Arnold possesses every physical and technical tool required to develop into a high-caliber starting corner.
Arnold is an explosive athlete who thrives in both man and zone coverage schemes. In press-man coverage, Arnold disrupts opponents at the line of scrimmage before matching them stride for stride with lateral agility. Arnold is always in the hip pocket of his assignment. Arnold's ball skills particularly shine in zone coverage, where he drives downhill to make plays on the ball.
Arnold recorded 26 career pass breakups and six interceptions across two campaigns as a starter at Alabama. He totaled a career-high five picks this past season. Arnold is worthy of being a top-20 selection.
A WORTHY UNDERDOG: KOOL-AID MCKINSTRY
Kool-Aid McKinstry entered the 2023 college football season as the consensus top-ranked cornerback. I thought he was outperformed by Arnold this past campaign, but he was still a high-level performer who played like a top-32 pick. McKinstry's pre-draft process has been muddied by injury, but he's still a high-level athlete.
A Jones fracture in his right foot prevented McKinstry from performing athletically at the NFL Combine. Despite requiring surgery, McKinstry still ran a 4.47 40 at Alabama's Pro Day. Size, stature, athleticism, and fluidity make McKinstry a candidate to be a high-level press-man corner at the next level. Getting McKinstry at +5000 to be the first corner drafted on FanDuel seems like a good low-risk wager.
