2025 NFL Draft Odds: Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward, Travis Hunter the Favorites To Go No. 1

With bowl season here, the NFL draft is right around the corner and three clear favorites are leading the latest 2025 NFL Draft odds.

Colorado's Shedeur Sanders (-180) is already minus money to hear his name called first in April, with Miami's Cam Ward (+250) sitting behind him as the only other QB shorter than 48/1. Sanders' teammate Travis Hunter (+430) is firmly the third-favorite.

With so many of the NFL draft odds favorites set to play in the College Football Playoff, big performances could seriously impact the board.

2025 NFL Draft odds: First overall pick

2025 NFL Draft odds from our best sports betting apps; last updated Dec. 17 and subject to change.

• Shedeur Sanders (-180): With odds no longer than -130 at our NFL betting sites, Sanders is the consensus favorite to be the No. 1 pick
• Cam Ward (+250): Between his arm talent and dominance at Miami this season, Ward is considered the top QB prospect in the draft by some, but the Hurricanes missing out on the College Football Playoff hurts
• Travis Hunter (+430): The Heisman Trophy odds winner, Hunter's rare ability at both wide receiver and cornerback is the reason many draftniks view him as the best player in the class
• Abdul Carter (+3700): Penn State is a college football championship odds contender thanks to its defense, and Carter has the makeup of previous No. 1 picks at edge-rusher
• Jalen Milroe (+4800): With Alabama missing out on the College Football Playoff odds race, Milroe might have a tough time climbing the board

Who will go No. 1 in the 2025 NFL Draft?

Shedeur Sanders (-180)

It's no surprise to see Sanders as the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. With him and his father, Deion, jumping from Jackson State to Colorado last year, there was plenty of buzz about the Buffaloes' investment in their football program.

Though Colorado ultimately fell flat down the stretch and missed a bowl game in his first FBS season, Sanders was clearly not at fault. He showcased his efficiency and accuracy throughout the season, despite playing behind a shaky offensive line.

It all came together in the Sanders' second season in Boulder. The Buffaloes won their most games since 2016 and Sanders proved to be among the best passers in the sport.

In his two seasons with Colorado, he's thrown for over 7,000 yards with more than 60 touchdowns and 45-plus big-time throws while putting together an adjusted completion rate above 80% and just 15 turnover-worthy plays, per .

While many early mock drafts are already predicting the 22-year-old to be the top pick in April, I'd steer clear for now. These odds are far too short - paying a $7.69 profit on a $10 winning bet - in a class that's not considered to have an elite QB prospect.

It's important to remember that this is shaping up to be one of the weakest NFL draft classes in recent memory, which is why no player should have odds shorter than +300 to go No. 1 at these early stages.

Best odds:  | Implied probability: 56.52%

Cam Ward (+250)

While Sanders is the more efficient and accurate passer, Ward is the quarterback who can throw the ball over them mountains like Uncle Rico.

He has all the physical skills that NFL front offices tend to fall for, and he's backed up the potential this season with Heisman-worthy numbers. And while Miami fell short of the College Football Playoff, he's hardly at fault. 

However, there are still some concerns about his ability to play in structure and take what the defense is giving him instead of big-play hunting. That style of always trying to extend the play and hit a home run has not worked in the NFL for a handful of recent first-round picks like Zach Wilson.

But just watch one game of Ward making heroic play after heroic play, and it's not hard to picture a QB-needy team falling in love with what he could be, especially given his background.

Ward was a Wing-T QB in high school and his only scholarship offer was to Incarnate Word, an FCS program in Texas. After lighting it up there, he went to Washington State and became one of the most exciting passers in the sport before leading Miami to just its second double-digit win season in the last two decades.

He's gotten better every season, and that development and upside could convince a team to take him with the top pick. But while a $10 winning bet on him to go No. 1 pays a $30 profit, I'm skeptical that he'll go that high.

Best odds:  | Implied probability: 25%

Travis Hunter (+430)

Hunter has absolutely lived up to the hype since being the the No. 1 player in the 2022 recruiting class. He's been so good that he would be a first-round pick as a full-time wide receiver or cornerback.

The question remains how teams will deploy him at the next level. The most likely scenario is that he'll be a full-time cornerback because it's a tougher position to find an elite player at, and it will allow him to still contribute as a wide receiver in specific packages.

Rare players like his head coach have done that in the NFL, but there's just no way he could be a full-time wide receiver who moonlights at cornerback. And it seems unrealistic that Hunter will be a full-time two-way player in the NFL, though he says he in the pros.

So could he be the top pick? Absolutely, and I think he's the best bet right now. Hunter is shaping up to be the top player on draftniks' big boards and was recently ranked No. 1 as a cornerback by The Athletic's , one of the most respected draft analysts in the business - Brugler also mocked him to the Jacksonville Jaguars with the No. 1 pick.

With Hunter's rare fluidity, ball skills, and football IQ - on top of his ability to contribute on both sides of the ball - the likely Heisman winner looks like the best bet right now to go No. 1.

If Hunter is the top pick, a $10 bet pays a $55 profit at DraftKings. 

Best odds: +550 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 15.38%

My first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to watch

Abdul Carter (+3700)

There are several defensive prospects who could make a push to go No. 1 if the QB class ends up falling short. Hunter is among them at cornerback, but since 2014 the only non-QBs to be the top pick were Jadeveon Clowney, Myles Garrett, and Travon Walker ... all edge-rushers. 

With a loaded edge-rusher class that includes Georgia's Mykel Williams and Tennessee's James Pearce Jr., Penn State's Abdul Carter has the most upside. Plus, this outlier price at DraftKings makes it so much sweeter with a $10 winning bet paying a $500 profit.

I'd expect this price to be closer to +1500 by the time the NFL draft cycle starts heating up in January because Carter is legit. He's drawn comparisons to former fellow Nittany Lion star Micah Parsons with his freakish athleticism allowing him to rush the passer or play off-ball linebacker.

This season, Carter officially moved from full-time linebacker to edge rusher and it's paid off. He's top 10 in the country in pressures (51) and top 10 in pass rush win rate (21.3%). But he's been just as effective stopping the run - he's top 40 in run stops (20) among defensive linemen.

Carter is also poised to light up the NFL Scouting Combine, much like Walker did before he went No. 1. So I think it's worth backing both Hunter and Carter to be the top pick at this point with no clear QB1 in the draft.

Best odds: +5000 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 1.96%

2025 NFL Draft odds: Position of No. 1 overall pick

NFL franchises live and die by their quarterbacks. That's why a record-tying six QBs were taken in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. However, while quarterbacks have been selected first overall in eight of the last 10 draft classes, the 2025 class doesn't necessarily have an obvious top QB.

That's what makes this market so tough to bet into. Quarterbacks dominate the first overall pick, but neither Sanders nor Ward are viewed as that blue-chip top choice yet.

It makes it especially difficult to feel confident in the -210 odds when the 2025 NFL Draft is shaping up to be loaded at other premium positions such as edge-rusher and defensive tackle.

Projected 2025 NFL Draft order

Draft order as of Dec. 17.

2025 NFL Draft odds over time

Odds via DraftKings.

Past NFL draft 1st overall picks

How to bet on the NFL draft

Betting on the NFL draft involves understanding the various types of wagers available and conducting thorough research on prospects and team needs. Start by familiarizing yourself with the different types of bets commonly offered, such as predicting which player will be selected first overall, the order in which players will be drafted, Over/Under bets on the draft position of specific players, and prop bets related to individual player performances or team selections.

Additionally, consider factors like team needs, draft strategies, and pre-draft rumors that could impact player selections. This early in the process, it's helpful to look at mock drafts from respected draftniks to get a better idea of which players are viewed as the top talents heading into the college football season.

How to read NFL draft odds

Odds are typically shown in formats like +300 or -150. Positive odds (e.g., +300) indicate how much profit you'd make on a $100 bet. For example, if a player has +300 odds to be the first overall pick, a $100 bet would win you $300, plus your original $100 stake, totaling $400. Negative odds (e.g., -150) show how much you need to bet to win $100. So, if a player has -150 odds, you'd need to bet $150 to win $100, plus your $150 stake, totaling $250.

These odds also reflect the implied probability of an event happening. Lower odds (e.g., +200) suggest a higher likelihood, while higher odds (e.g., +1000) indicate a lower likelihood. Sportsbooks adjust these odds based on factors like player performance, team needs, and insider information that could affect draft decisions.

For example, if Beck is favored to be the first overall pick at -200, and Sanders is at +500, Bec is considered more likely to be selected first. Understanding these odds helps you make informed betting decisions and evaluate potential returns based on how the draft might play out.

2025 NFL Draft FAQs

Who is the favorite to go first overall in the 2025 NFL Draft?

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders is the favorite to go No. 1 in the 2025 NFL Draft. His shortest odds (-180) imply a 64.29% chance he'll be the top choice.

Who was the first overall pick this year?

The Chicago Bears selected former USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, as was expected by the pre-draft odds.

When is the 2025 NFL Draft?

The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft will be held on Thursday, April 24, and the event concludes on Saturday, April 26.

Where is the 2025 NFL Draft?

The 2025 NFL Draft will be held at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisc.

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