Best Bets for No. 1 Pick in the 2025 NFL Draft
Cam Ward is heavily favored to be selected at number one, Travis Hunter at number two, and Abdul Carter at number three.
I will recommend the following plus-money route for great profit: Abdul Carter at number one and Cam Ward at number two.
The two draft picks are interconnected — if the first bet hits, then the second one is sure to as well. Because of this connection and because of the odds, investing a full unit in each bet logically feels like overkill. So I recommend splitting a full unit on each wager.
Disappointing Quarterback Class
Tennessee has the number one overall pick and is lacking quality at the quarterback position.
Historically, it is common for the team with the number one overall draft pick to select a quarterback.
The Titans do reportedly like quarterback Cam Ward. They won't opt for pocket passer Shedeur Sanders, whose private workout with them they decided to cancel.
However, oddsmakers are wrong to favor Ward — especially so heavily — to be this year's first draft selection.
The quarterback draft class this year is lacking quality, and it certainly will lack quality compared to next year's NFL Draft. This year feels more like 2022 when defensive end Travon Walker was selected first overall.
Ward is not worthy of going first overall. For sure, he is a quarterback who has put together some impressive highlights, but he played in a weak ACC conference and did not demonstrate much success against stronger opponents. As such, his film is unconvincing because lots of lesser quarterbacks can look great against ACC opponents.
The Will Levis Question
Of course, what I and NFL analysts think matters less than what the Titans themselves think.
While they do like Ward, it is crucial to observe that they still like Will Levis.
They did invest a second-round draft pick in him, moving up to select him.
While he has struggled, he's also lacked quality around him. He's also dealt with significant injuries that hindered his ability to play well.
The key is that he has shown flashes of strong play such as when, during a stretch late last season, he accumulated seven touchdowns and two interceptions against the Chargers, Vikings, Texans, and Commanders.
Those four squads were all playoff teams. Washington, Houston, and Los Angeles ranked fifth, sixth, and seventh, respectively, in pass defense, and Minnesota's complex scheme gave opposing quarterbacks a lot of trouble.
Levis is still on Tennessee's roster and reportedly is someone who the Titans are not ready to give up on. After all, two years is not a long time.
It just doesn't make sense to me to select a quarterback at number one, which is a multi-year investment. Ward , also given his frantic style of play, is a risky pick who could easily end up like another Jameis Winston.
The Titans have plenty of other needs that they could serve by drafting someone else.
My Prediction
I am wagering on Abdul Carter to go number one to Tennessee.
Carter is an elite edge rusher who has been compared to game-changer Micah Parsons.
Tennessee would benefit from having an elite edge rusher. The Titans' pass rush needs significant help, as evident in the fact that they ranked 23rd in sack rate last year.
+1800 is incredible for someone of Carter's caliber who is competing with a subpar class of quarterbacks. While a lot of so-called experts are contending that Ward will go first overall, those media talking heads are so often wrong. Tennessee's head coach did specify that selecting Carter is a possibility for them. Tennessee should and will select Carter at first overall.
Best Bet: Abdul Carter Number 1 Overall Pick at +1800 with Bet365
So What Happens At Number Two?
With Carter gone, Cleveland obviously cannot draft him.
The Browns do need a quarterback, and they arguably need one more badly than Tennessee does.
Deshaun Watson is clearly washed-up. He is unplayable. His backup is currently 40-year-old Joe Flacco, who himself doesn't have much of a future.
Cleveland's low-ranked offensive line posed major problems to the team's offensive potential last season, so Shedeur Sanders, because he is a classic pocket passer, would be a bad option.
The Browns need a quarterback who can elude pressure and make difficult plays. Ward has the potential to be that guy.
Cleveland does recognize his upside. The Browns like him, having had him work out privately for him.
The Best Option
It makes the most sense for them to select Ward at number two.
While Travis Hunter is a highly regarded prospect, the Browns do not have nearly the same level of need for a cornerback or wide receiver. Jerry Jeudy turned out to be a revelation for them last year, as evident alone in his massive performance against Denver's secondary. The Browns have a strong cornerback group led by Pro Bowler Denzel Ward.
Hunter is not a reasonable option for them. With Carter selected, only one candidate makes solid sense for them.
Best Bet: Cameron Ward Number 2 Overall Pick at +5000 with Bet365
Cam Ward is heavily favored to be selected at number one, Travis Hunter at number two, and Abdul Carter at number three.
I will recommend the following plus-money route for great profit: Abdul Carter at number one and Cam Ward at number two.
The two draft picks are interconnected — if the first bet hits, then the second one is sure to as well. Because of this connection and because of the odds, investing a full unit in each bet logically feels like overkill. So I recommend splitting a full unit on each wager.
Disappointing Quarterback Class
Tennessee has the number one overall pick and is lacking quality at the quarterback position.
Historically, it is common for the team with the number one overall draft pick to select a quarterback.
The Titans do reportedly like quarterback Cam Ward. They won't opt for pocket passer Shedeur Sanders, whose private workout with them they decided to cancel.
However, oddsmakers are wrong to favor Ward — especially so heavily — to be this year's first draft selection.
The quarterback draft class this year is lacking quality, and it certainly will lack quality compared to next year's NFL Draft. This year feels more like 2022 when defensive end Travon Walker was selected first overall.
Ward is not worthy of going first overall. For sure, he is a quarterback who has put together some impressive highlights, but he played in a weak ACC conference and did not demonstrate much success against stronger opponents. As such, his film is unconvincing because lots of lesser quarterbacks can look great against ACC opponents.
The Will Levis Question
Of course, what I and NFL analysts think matters less than what the Titans themselves think.
While they do like Ward, it is crucial to observe that they still like Will Levis.
They did invest a second-round draft pick in him, moving up to select him.
While he has struggled, he's also lacked quality around him. He's also dealt with significant injuries that hindered his ability to play well.
The key is that he has shown flashes of strong play such as when, during a stretch late last season, he accumulated seven touchdowns and two interceptions against the Chargers, Vikings, Texans, and Commanders.
Those four squads were all playoff teams. Washington, Houston, and Los Angeles ranked fifth, sixth, and seventh, respectively, in pass defense, and Minnesota's complex scheme gave opposing quarterbacks a lot of trouble.
Levis is still on Tennessee's roster and reportedly is someone who the Titans are not ready to give up on. After all, two years is not a long time.
It just doesn't make sense to me to select a quarterback at number one, which is a multi-year investment. Ward , also given his frantic style of play, is a risky pick who could easily end up like another Jameis Winston.
The Titans have plenty of other needs that they could serve by drafting someone else.
My Prediction
I am wagering on Abdul Carter to go number one to Tennessee.
Carter is an elite edge rusher who has been compared to game-changer Micah Parsons.
Tennessee would benefit from having an elite edge rusher. The Titans' pass rush needs significant help, as evident in the fact that they ranked 23rd in sack rate last year.
+1800 is incredible for someone of Carter's caliber who is competing with a subpar class of quarterbacks. While a lot of so-called experts are contending that Ward will go first overall, those media talking heads are so often wrong. Tennessee's head coach did specify that selecting Carter is a possibility for them. Tennessee should and will select Carter at first overall.
Best Bet: Abdul Carter Number 1 Overall Pick at +1800 with Bet365
So What Happens At Number Two?
With Carter gone, Cleveland obviously cannot draft him.
The Browns do need a quarterback, and they arguably need one more badly than Tennessee does.
Deshaun Watson is clearly washed-up. He is unplayable. His backup is currently 40-year-old Joe Flacco, who himself doesn't have much of a future.
Cleveland's low-ranked offensive line posed major problems to the team's offensive potential last season, so Shedeur Sanders, because he is a classic pocket passer, would be a bad option.
The Browns need a quarterback who can elude pressure and make difficult plays. Ward has the potential to be that guy.
Cleveland does recognize his upside. The Browns like him, having had him work out privately for him.
The Best Option
It makes the most sense for them to select Ward at number two.
While Travis Hunter is a highly regarded prospect, the Browns do not have nearly the same level of need for a cornerback or wide receiver. Jerry Jeudy turned out to be a revelation for them last year, as evident alone in his massive performance against Denver's secondary. The Browns have a strong cornerback group led by Pro Bowler Denzel Ward.
Hunter is not a reasonable option for them. With Carter selected, only one candidate makes solid sense for them.
Best Bet: Cameron Ward Number 2 Overall Pick at +5000 with Bet365