Two cornerbacks went in the top ten picks of the 2021 NFL draft. Two safeties might be the steals of the draft after being selected in Round 2.
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The four players – Jaycee Horn, Patrick Surtain II, Jevon Holland, and Trevon Moehrig-Woodard – are paired up in one of the more exciting NFL rookie props.
Which players will have the most interceptions in 2021?
Horn vs. Surtain II Interceptions Props Picks
This rookie prop features the No. 8 pick – Jaycee Horn – battling the No. 9 pick – Patrick Surtain II. If the names sound familiar, it’s because both players’ fathers are former NFL players.
Horn, the higher pick, was selected by Carolina. He played in seven games in 2020 shutting down his season after South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp was fired. He finished with two interceptions, six pass breakups, and 16 tackles.
Like Surtain, Horn is the modern big corner at 6-1 and 205. He has the speed to cover fast receivers but also the size and physicality to defend bigger receivers.
Surtain was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2020. The first team All-American had 12 pass break ups, 38 tackles, and 1 interception.
He was selected by Denver at No. 9 and at 6-2 and 203 pounds. Surtain will likely break into the lineup and play opposite Kyle Fuller. Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert will no doubt take advantage of the inexperienced rookie at cornerback.
That may give Surtain more opportunities to snag interceptions, but don’t expect it. Surtain often had difficulty with speedy and sure-handed receivers at Alabama. The AFC West has Tyreek Hill, Henry Ruggs III, and Keenan Allen just to name a few.
Horn will likely start right away. He’ll be picked on by the likes of Tom Brady and Matt Ryan twice each in 2021. But, Horn will also take more chances. He’s probably a hair better than Surtain in man coverage though he does use his hands a lot.
It will be a tight race, but Horn will benefit from the amount of Cover 3 played by Carolina and defensive coordinator Phil Snow. The Panthers actually led the league in percentage of Cover 3 played.
BEST BET: Horn (-120)
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Holland vs. Moehrig-Woodard Interceptions Props Picks
Jevon Holland (-120) opted out of the 2020 season and did not play when Oregon and the rest of the Pac-12 decided to play a late-season, six-game schedule. He did lead the Ducks in interceptions in 2019 with four.
Holland is a big (6-1, 207) and physical safety who can also run. He ran 4.46 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day.
The thing about Holland though is he was drafted by Miami in the second round. Miami is the home of reigning NFL interceptions champ Xavien Howard. The Dolphins corner had 10 picks last season.
That could likely be the result of the Dolphins playing more Cover 3. Holland will likely be used more as a strong safety lining up around the line of scrimmage as opposed to sitting back in zone coverage.
His counterpart in this NFL props bet, Trevon Moehrig-Woodard (-120), is a similar type player. Big at 6-2 and 203 pounds, Moehrig-Woodard ran a 4.5 40-yard dash at his pro day. The big TCU safety earned the Jim Thorpe Award in 2020 which is given annually to the nation’s best defensive back.
Moehrig-Woodard is currently listed behind starting Vegas free safety Jeff Heath, who led the Raiders in interceptions last year with three. Las Vegas had a total of just 10 picks last year.
Moehrig-Woodard is first going to have to work his way onto the field. Then, he’ll have to face the likes of Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and the Chargers’ Justin Herbert twice each this coming season. Neither throws many interceptions. Mahomes threw six and Herbert 10 last season.
When it’s all said and done, Holland is going to have more opportunities to make plays. That means he’ll have more chances for interceptions.
BEST BET: HOLLAND (-120)
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