It is an exciting time to be an American football fan because the 2025 NFL Draft is less than three weeks away. Taking place at Lambeau Field, the home of the Green Bay Packers, between April 24-26, the 2025 NFL Draft will see all 32 famous NFL franchises select the best college players from the Class of 2025. You should continue reading if you are betting on the NFL Draft in the coming weeks because it is easy to get roped into backing super-short-priced favorites where there is little to no value.
Avoid Betting on Cam Ward to be the Number 1 Overall Pick
Eight of the previous ten number-one NFL Draft picks have been quarterbacks, and that trend is set to continue in 2025. Every NFL team’s management team and head coach dreams of getting their hands on the next Patrick Mahomes, which is why so many quarterbacks are selected first. Elite-level quarterbacks command ginormous salaries, so acquiring one on a four-year rookie contract is good for business.
Word around the campfire suggested the Tennessee Titans were prepared to trade their number-one pick with the New York Giants‘ number-three pick, but that is apparently no longer the case. The Titans have taken a closer look at the former Miami Hurricanes’ Cam Ward, and reports suggest they like what they saw.
Across 57 college games, Cam completed 65.0% of his 2,329 passing attempts, threw 18,137 passing yards, and a staggering 158 touchdowns. He also gained 469 rushing yards and scored 20 touchdowns.
The Titans desperately need a quarterback because Will Levis has failed to live up to the hype surrounding him. Ward has the leadership, playmaking ability, and arm strength to become a starter for the Titans. As a result, Ward’s odds of being the first overall pick have massively shortened to the point that there is zero value in backing him unless you are prepared to risk significant sums. Whether or not the Titans trade their number one pick with the Giants, someone will pick Ward first.
There’s More Value in Betting on the Number 2 Pick
With the first overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft all but guaranteed to be Cam Ward, those looking for more value should consider placing a wager on the second pick. Until a couple of weeks ago, Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders looked like a lock for the second overall pick, but these markets often move.
The consensus between American football experts and mock drafters is that it is a two-horse race between Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter to become the number-two pick in April. Most bookmakers favor Hunter, but winning the 2024 Heisman Trophy is swaying their thinking. There is no doubt that Travis will go within the first three or four selections, not least because he can play wide receiver or cornerback equally well. However, you must remember that the Cleveland Browns currently have the second pick, and they are in the market for a quarterback, offensive lineman, or running back, so Travis doesn’t quite fit the bill.
Considering that, the smart money is on the Browns selecting Carter with their number two pick. Pairing Carter with Myles Garrett would be a smart move by the Browns’ backroom staff because it would arguably be the best edge-rushing partnership in the league. Carter played 39 games for Penn State, recording 172 tackles, 23.0 sacks, and five forced fumbles. He even found the time for an interception! With the Browns facing Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens) and Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) twice per year, having the deadly duo of Carter and Garrett seems like a great defense against top-tier quarterbacks.
Who Will Be the First Running Back and Wide Receiver Selected?
Like the number one overall pick, the first running back and first wide receiver selected markets are dominated by one player. Ashton Jeanty is the odds-on favorite to be the first running back selected. While Jeanty has bags of potential, the other Class of 2025 running backs do not.
Jeanty played 40 games for Boise State, starting 26. During his three college seasons, he racked up 4,769 rushing yards and 50 touchdowns, 862 receiving yards, and six touchdowns. He was ever-present in 2024 and gained an NCAA Division I FBS-best 2,601 yards.
The Las Vegas Raiders roster is calling out for a quarterback and a running back. The cream of the quarterback crop will likely be gone by the time the Raiders number-six pick comes around, so expect the team from “Sin City” to opt for Jeanty. Omarion Hampton (North Carolina), Dylan Sampson (Tennessee), and TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State) are also sought after, but they cannot hold a candle to Jeanty.
As for the first wide receiver, everything points to Tetairoa McMillian being selected first. Despite only playing 37 games for the Arizona Wildcats before declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft, McMillian finished his college career with 3,423 yards and 26 touchdowns. Those yards are the most in the Wildcats program history, while his touchdowns place him in the top five.
We would not be surprised to see McMillian selected just outside the top ten. The Dallas Cowboys are McMillian’s most likely destination. Although the Cowboys have a superstar wide receiver in CeeDee Lamb, they lack significant depth of strength in that key position, and McMillian could easily fill that void.
What About a Parlay of All Four Markets?
While backing the favorite in each of the four markets mentioned on their own seems like a waste of time, putting them in a parlay makes them look far nicer. For example, parlaying the current four favorites in the First Pick, Second Pick, First RB, and First WR yield odds of around -105. Swap Travis Hunter for Abdul Carter in the second-pick market for the reasons we previously mentioned, and that four-pick parlay is much closer to +280. Good luck!
