The 2021 NFL draft wasn’t a deep one for pass rushers, but there were six selected in the first round. Four of those picks came at the very end of Round 1.
Where to Bet on NFL Player Props
Linebacker was another position that was not deep in first-round talent. Penn State’s Micah Parsons was projected as the top candidate at the position and he was the first linebacker selected at No. 12 by Dallas.
In somewhat of a surprise, the Arizona Cardinals selected Zaven Collins out of Tulsa. Collins was the Bednarik and Nagurski Award winner last season. As a result of the pick, an interesting NFL rookie prop bet exists. Which player, Collins or Parsons, will have more sacks in 2021? There is also a prop on the board for Paye. Let’s take a look.
How Many Sacks Will Kwity Paye Have in 2021?
Kwity Paye Over 5 Sacks (-120) vs. Under 5 Sacks (-120)
There were many that felt Paye, who played at Michigan, would be the first edge rusher selected in this year’s draft. He was not and fell into the lap of the Indianapolis Colts at No. 21.
Paye is the perfect blend of size, speed, and athleticism that Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus looks for in an edge pass rusher. Paye is 6-2½ and checks in between 260 and 265 pounds. What makes him special is his explosiveness. He is quick off the ball and has run the 40-yard dash in 4.5.
With Justin Houston remaining unsigned in Indy, Paye is going to be able to gain some valuable experience in the Colts offseason workouts leading up to training camp. He’ll likely be penciled in as a starter right beside DT DeForest Buckner who led Indy in sacks last year with 9.5.
With Paye’s motor and becoming a starter essentially out of the gate, he’ll have plenty of opportunity to surpass five sacks as a rookie. With the Colts coming off an 11-5 season, it’s safe to say Indy is going to play some games against opponents that will be chasing points. That means Paye and his teammates will have plenty of opportunities to get after opposing quarterbacks.
BEST BET: PAYE OVER 5 SACKS
NFL PredictionsandNFL Betting Lines
Micah Parsons vs. Zaven Collins Sacks Prop Bet
Micah Parsons (-120) vs. Zaven Collins (-120) Most Sacks Props Picks
Collins is a great story. He was a high school quarterback that had exactly one FBS offer – Tulsa. He took it, redshirted, became a tight end and ultimately a linebacker. He was a freshman All-American, All AAC as a sophomore, and then he exploded in 2020.
Collins had 11.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, four interceptions (two of which were returned for touchdowns), and won a bunch of awards, including the AAC Defensive Player of the Year.
He is big at 6-5 and 259 pounds and has some explosiveness with a 35-inch vertical jump and a 4.67 40- yard dash. The big question in this NFL prop bet is whether Collins will have the chance to sack the opposing quarterbacks often enough to beat Parsons.
Parsons is an absolute freak. He is 6-3 and weighs 245 pounds. At his pro day, he clocked a 4.39 40-yard dash. That is just ridiculous.
He is also extremely versatile. Parsons recorded 109 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and five sacks as a sophomore in 2019. He sat out last year to prepare for the draft.
In Dallas, Parsons will likely be used as a true inside linebacker, a slot defender playing against opposing tight ends, and as a blitzer off the edge. Parsons will probably have more opportunities to get after the quarterback than Collins.
BEST BET: MICAH PARSONS
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