VSiN listeners and viewers may be used to hearing fantasy football advice and prop bets from John Hansen, the appropriately-named Fantasy Guru and also in-season host of Prop Points right here on our 24/7 broadcast channel. But, it’s good to know that John doesn’t go into hibernation just because it’s the spring. In fact, far from it. He’s busy plotting ahead for the upcoming season, which also includes analyzing the 2026 NFL Draft.

Hansen joined Nick Whalen and Jeff Erickson as a guest on Prop Points on Wednesday, which had to be just a little bit awkward given that he was the one answering the questions instead of asking them. However, “Guru” gave out six prop bets for the first round of of Thursday night’s NFL Draft and shared the supporting evidence.

Let’s rip through his bets and add a little bit of context based on what John said. If you want, you can go ahead and listen for yourself to the linked episode (Apple Podcasts | Spotify) or watch right here, beginning around the 30-minute mark.

John Hansen’s NFL Draft Best Bets

Panthers First Player Drafted: Tight End (+300); Kenyon Sadiq Over 15.5 (+115)

Embed from Getty Images

A little bit of a correlated outcome here, as the Panthers draft No. 19 and they have the need for a tight end. Carolina has already answered the wide receiver position the last two years in the NFL Draft and Bryce Young continues to need more support. It seems like the Panthers have the running back position checked. The WR room has improved. Is it time to get a tight end now?

As John noted, Sadiq is also a very good run-blocking TE and that should fit nicely into Dave Canales’ offense, assuming he’s still on the board.

Total Tight Ends Drafted First Round Over 1.5 (+850)

Sadiq would be the first, but who will be the second? How about the John Mackey Award winner coming out of Vanderbilt in Eli Stowers. There are a lot of teams towards the tail end of the first round that could use somebody at that position, including the Chiefs, who may want to start planning for the swan song of Travis Kelce.

Ravens First Player Drafted: Offensive Lineman (+150)

John Harbaugh may be gone, but so is Tyler Linderbaum and that creates a big hole on the offensive line for a team that is still very likely to run the football under new head coach Jesse Minter and 29-year-old OC Declan Doyle. Doyle was the OC for the Bears last season and a guy who was a student assistant at Iowa and an assistant under Sean Payton twice. The foundation of any offense is in the trenches and the Ravens need a makeover there in Guru’s mind.

But, who will that OL be? Give the segment a listen to find out.

Vikings First Player Drafted: Defensive Line/Edge (+210)

Harrison Smith seems like he may not actually retire, which means that the Vikings could shift to a different position of need. Despite being tied for fourth in the NFL last season in sacks and third in Pressure%, Minnesota had a big issue stopping the run. This is the second choice on the board for the Vikings based on first-round draft position and there are some fits that will make sense.

Rams First Player Drafted: Wide Receiver (-135)

How many needs do the Rams actually have? After spending some money in free agency on the secondary, will Sean McVay, who has a first-round pick for just the second time in his tenure, take a skill player? The injury concerns for Davante Adams and a “colorful” offseason for Puka Nacua, as John put it, could lead the Rams towards taking a WR, whether they trade back with the pick or not.

The post John Hansen’s 2026 NFL Draft Best Bets appeared first on VSiN.