Who’s No. 1 in 2025 NFL Draft? Favorites, Sleepers Dark Horses

Of the first 32 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, 23 were offensive players, including six quarterbacks and seven wide receivers. A draft record was also set for the most consecutive offensive players with 14 – all within the first 14 picks. That put a premium on offensive talent, which could carry over into 2025.

Quarterback Favorites Include Georgia’s Beck

With how the 2024 draft went and the quarterback being the most crucial position on a football team, it makes sense that the betting favorite for the No. 1 overall pick would be from that position. The first three picks in 2024 were all quarterbacks, with six being selected in the first 12 picks. Furthermore, 18 quarterbacks have been selected first overall since 2000.

However, 2024 was a special draft class for quarterbacks, and in 2025, there will be some talent drop-off. The college football season could change things, but the talent level of the 2024 class included Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye doesn’t seem as high in 2025.

That has not stopped Carson Beck, Georgia’s starting quarterback, from being the favorite to be the first overall pick with odds at +350. In 2023, he threw for 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. The question surrounding Beck is that Georgia has one of the best teams in the nation and could win a national championship, but does that help or hinder Beck’s draft stock? He could put up big numbers, but that might be because of the team around him, not his individual talent.

Next is Quinn Ewers out of Texas, He has odds at +400 to be the first overall pick. He has a solid 2023, throwing for 3,479 yards with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions, leading Texas into the College Football Playoffs. Another big season from Ewers and his team, plus with Texas now playing in the SEC, could turn some heads. Ewers was also the No. 1 recruit in 2021, with a public eye already on him, which could boost his draft value.

Finally, Shedeur Sanders is a surprise favorite, maybe even a sleeper pick to be the first overall pick, with odds at +500. He was great in an exciting 2023 season for Colorado, passing for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns, and three interceptions. One thing that works for him is that Colorado does not have the best roster, so a lot of his success can be attributed to him, unlike with Beck.

That could give the son of Colorado coach Deion Sanders a massive boost in the eyes of some scouts and analysts because the quarterback can do more with less talent around him.

Defensive Line Could Pearce Draft Order

Much of the discourse around the 2024 draft was that teams needed to trade up because the quarterback talent dips in 2025. Despite that, the first three favorites are all quarterbacks, mainly due to the position’s value.

However, if the discourse around the 2025 quarterbacks proves to be true, that does open the door for another position to take over. The first place to look is pass rusher and defensive line, often considered the second most valuable position on a roster.

The defender favored to be the first overall pick is James Pearce, an edge rusher from Tennessee, with odds at +500. In 2023, Pearce was on the All-SEC team, finishing the season with 10 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss and one interception that he returned for a touchdown. That is impressive, given that he is in the SEC and goes up against NFL-caliber talent every week. Another big season from Pearce could boost his chances of being the first player picked in a potentially weak quarterback draft.

The second defensive player with the lowest odds is Mykel Williams, set at +800. However, with Georgia’s dominance on defense, standing out and putting up big stats with the Bulldogs is tough. Williams only had 4.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for a loss in 2023, but that could change as he gets a more significant role in 2024.

Georgia has consistently put out exceptional defensive line players. It’s hard to look past Travon Walker, who was selected first overall in 2022, and Jalen Carter, who could have been in consideration for No. 1 in 2023 if it wasn’t for off-field issues. Williams could fall into that mold with an impressive season and the NFL’s awareness of how good a dominating Georgia defensive lineman can be.

Hunter Shapes Up as True Dark Horse

This draft’s dark horse is a little out of the box. Right now, Travis Hunter’s odds are set at +1800 to be the first overall pick, but he becomes a unique option for the selection, given his versatility and skill.

While at Colorado in 2023, Hunter played both sides of the ball and has the talent to be an elite wide receiver or cornerback. Hunter caught 57 passes for 721 yards and five touchdowns in nine games as a receiver. As a cornerback, he also had three interceptions and 30 tackles, two for losses.

Drafting a player with Hunter’s skill on both sides of the ball is a crazy thought. It is also uncertain if he will pick a position or side of the ball to play in the NFL. But, if a team can get a top-level wide receiver and cornerback, that could be worth the first overall pick, given the value of getting two solid players in one.

Best Prop Bet: Non-QB to Go No. 1

After a draft in which the quarterbacks and offense set records, the 2025 draft does not include that same talent level despite QBs favored to go first overall. On top of that, very few teams in the NFL are entering the season with a quarterback controversy, which somewhat diminishes the need for a team to trade up in the draft one first overall. That could lead to a special prop bet being a great value in NFL picks, with the odds at +130 of a non-quarterback being selected first overall.

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