Derek Brown urged bettors to grab the Rams at +300 to select an offensive lineman with their opening pick (26th overall on DraftKings). Brown pointed out that Los Angeles has suffered multi‑year injury carnage up front and right tackle Rob Havenstein, their lone pillar, turns 32 and hits free agency after the season. While the depth chart appears acceptable on paper—Bo Limmer is slated to start at center and Alaric Jackson was re‑signed—Brown stressed Sean McVay has learned the hard way that protecting Matthew Stafford is non‑negotiable. The 2025 tackle class aligns perfectly with L.A.’s slot: Josh Simmons could slide to 26, and tweeners like Donovan Jackson or Josh Conerly offer Day‑1 guard snaps with long‑term tackle upside. With the defensive front fortified last year (Fiske, Verse) and corner the only other glaring need, Brown pegs the true odds near +150, making the 3‑to‑1 ticket an obvious value play.

Derek Brown recommended betting the Eagles to open their draft with a cornerback at +425. Brown highlighted the depth chart attrition—Darius Slay’s departure leaves Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean as the only reliable outside options, with Perry Nickerson, Adoree Jackson and Kelee Ringo penciled in behind them. He dismissed last year’s double‑dip at CB as irrelevant because the room remains paper‑thin. Sitting late in Round 1, Howie Roseman can either stay put or slide back a few spots and still snatch a falling prospect like Will Johnson if his middling testing pushes him out of the top 20. Given the glaring need, draft‑board alignment and Roseman’s penchant for exploiting value in premium positions, Brown pegged fair odds around +250, making the current price a strong buy.

Brown also urged a sprinkle on the Texans at +600 to take a defensive lineman first. He pointed out that both projected starters inside—Sheldon Rankins and Tim Settle—are on one‑year deals, and Nick Caserio has repeatedly said he wants to build sustainably in the trenches. The mid‑20s portion of Round 1 historically serves as a sweet spot for three‑techs and edge/big‑end hybrids, so the positional board should align with Houston’s slot. With the betting market laser‑focused on offensive line, Brown believes the defensive‑line path is being overlooked despite multiple viable targets such as Walter Nolen or Deone Walker likely being available. He framed it as a "spray the board" approach: if either WR (+400) or DL (+600) hits, bettors clear solid profit while fading the consensus O‑line narrative.

Derek Brown recommended betting the Texans at +400 to open their draft with a wide receiver, arguing the public is still stuck on offensive‑line narratives that no longer apply. Houston has patched the line with volume—signing Cam Robinson, Ed Ingram, Trent Brown and Laken Tomlinson while retaining Titus Howard and 2024 second‑rounder Blake Fisher—so the front office could legitimately feel comfortable up front. Meanwhile the receiver room is a minefield: Christian Kirk is an aging rental, Tank Dell’s return from a catastrophic leg injury is uncertain, and the remaining depth (Justin Watson, John Metchie, Braxton Berrios) profiles as replacement‑level. Brown connected obvious dots to Emeka Egbuka or another perimeter threat at pick 26 and called the +400 number "far too long" given the roster needs and C.J. Stroud’s ascendant trajectory.

Derek Brown highlighted Washington at 10‑to‑1 to open its draft with a running back, labeling it a "DBro special" worth a sprinkle. He noted Washington’s three glaring roster holes—running back, cornerback, and safety—and argued new GM Adam Peters could address the latter two positions later in a deep class, leaving pick 29 for a premium ball‑carrier. Brown sees the bet hinging on TreVeyon Henderson’s rising buzz; if the Buckeye star sneaks into Round 1, Amarian Hampton or Jonathan Brooks would still leave the Commanders several viable paths to pull the trigger. With coaches Dan Quinn and Kliff Kingsbury both favoring run‑heavy schemes, Brown believes the 10‑1 price understates the probability Washington makes Henderson or Hampton its first selection.

Derek Brown urged bettors to grab Buffalo at +275 to select a cornerback with its first 2025 pick, calling the number "absolutely wrong" and closer to what should be an even‑money proposition. Brown pointed out that the Bills have effectively moved on from 2022 first‑round bust Kaiir Elam, are relying on a one‑year prove‑it deal for a diminished Tre'Davious White, and otherwise field only depth pieces such as Dane Jackson and Cam Lewis opposite Christian Benford. Because the CB class is expected to start coming off the board in the 20s, Buffalo’s slot at the back of Round 1 aligns perfectly with the positional run. He dismissed safety or offensive line as true threats to cornerback in this spot and believes the price will shorten once mainstream mock drafters catch up.

Derek Brown said bettors should jump on the plus‑money price for Matthew Golden landing in Dallas with the Cowboys’ first selection. Brown noted Golden has appeared in every mock draft he has written because the Texas burner checks every schematic box Mike McCarthy looks for opposite CeeDee Lamb: true field‑stretching speed, outside/inside versatility, and a vertical route tree identical to what the club tried (and failed) to unlock with Brandin Cooks. Brown views Golden as a much closer stylistic match to the Cooks archetype than favorite Tetairoa McMillan, which is why he believes the market is mis‑pricing Dallas’ intentions. With the Cowboys openly prioritizing a wideout and Golden’s skill set matching their history, Brown thinks any plus number here is a gift.