About the only thing that appears certain in the hours leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft is that Miami quarterback Cam Ward will go No. 1 overall to Tennessee.
Everything beyond that remains in flux, leaving sportsbooks adjusting odds based off breaking news and reports of teams interested in moving up or down within the top 10.
Travis Hunter has emerged as the strong favorite to go No. 2 overall. Whether the Cleveland Browns keep the pick or deal it, Colorado’s two-way star moved from -1800 at DraftKings on Thursday morning to -2500 to go second overall by the afternoon. Hunter also is the -5000 favorite to go No. 2 overall at BetMGM.
The momentum for Hunter also has impacted Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter. He is now the -1600 favorite at DraftKings and -2000 at BetMGM to go No. 3 overall — a pick currently held by the New York Giants.
The teams that ultimately hold the second and third picks is part of the drama building up to Thursday’s first round. That’s followed by plenty of uncertainty from the fourth pick on.
LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell is the heavy -475 favorite at DraftKings to go No. 4 where the New England Patriots currently sit.
Running back Ashton Jeanty has emerged as the -250 favorite at DraftKings and -300 at BetMGM to go No. 5. That pick is currently owned by Jacksonville, which would appear to have bigger needs than at running back. But the former Boise State star reportedly is coveted by a number of teams that may be looking to move up, including Chicago at No. 10.
As of Thursday morning, Jeanty had been backed by the most total bets at BetMGM to go No. 4 with 12.7 percent, despite Campbell being the heavy favorite. Jeanty is the favorite to go No. 5, and has been backed by the most money to do so with 31.5 percent.
Others in the mix with the fifth overall pick include Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham (+350 at DraftKings, +360 at BetMGM) and Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan.
“The NFL Draft brings in lots of attention from bettors,” BetMGM trading manager Christian Cipollini said. “Trades, breaking news, and other factors can alter the draft in a moments notice. BetMGM is hoping Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty falls out of the top 5, but besides that every pick is a case by case situation.”
One of the most rapidly evolving “situations” is that of Hunter’s former teammate, quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Once in the mix to be the No. 1 overall pick and long thought to be the certain second quarterback off the board, reports have surfaced about a potential slide completely out of the top 10.
As of Thursday afternoon, Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart had emerged at +300 at DraftKings to go No. 9 overall, where New Orleans is believed to be considering a quarterback with Derek Carr’s status for 2025 uncertain. Meanwhile, Sanders was +2200 to go ninth overall.
The son of Colorado coach and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Deion Sanders, where Shedeur Sanders winds up is one of this draft’s biggest question marks. His shortest odds within the top 10 at DraftKings was +1200 at No. 3, although that’s widely believed to be where Carter will go.
The story was similar at BetMGM, where Sanders was +1200 to go No. 3, but his only other odds shorter than -3000 to go in the top 10 was +1200 at No. 9 overall.
The team with the shortest odds to select Sanders was Pittsburgh at -145. The Steelers, who have remained in communication with Aaron Rodgers this offseason, currently hold the 21st overall pick.
Cleveland was +220 to select Sanders, followed by the New York Giants (+450), New Orleans (+1000) Las Vegas (+1200) and the Los Angeles Rams (+1500). No other team had shorter odds to select Sanders than the New York Jets at +2500.
The Browns are considered a candidate to trade into the second half of the first round to target a quarterback. The Raidders hold the Nos. 6 and 37 overall picks, the Saints Nos. 9 and 40. The Rams own the 26th overall pick, but no others until the 26th pick of the third round.
–Field Level Media
Comments