2025 NFL Draft Odds: Carson Beck Overtakes Sheduer Sanders as Favorite To Go No. 1
The college football and NFL seasons are underway, which means the NFL draft odds are becoming increasingly clear.
While the 2025 NFL Draft isn't expected to be loaded with quarterbacks the way last year's was, there's still a pair of premier passers atop the oddsboard at our best NFL betting sites.
On one end of the spectrum, Georgia's Carson Beck is the leader of the college football championship odds favorites, and viewed as the consensus top QB in the class due to his high floor.
Meanwhile, Colorado's Shedeur Sanders is a Heisman Trophy odds contender due to his knack for dazzling plays.
But in a class that may not have a Caleb Williams or Jayden Daniels, non-QBs like Tennessee's James Pearce Jr., Georgia's Mykel Williams, LSU's Will Campbell, and Colorado's Travis Hunter have a realistic shot to go No. 1.
2025 NFL Draft odds: First overall pick
2025 NFL Draft odds from our best sports betting apps | 🔥 = best odds | ❄️ = worst odds
| Player | DraftKings | FanDuel | bet365 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson Beck | +320 | +300 ❄️ | +350 🔥 |
| Shedeur Sanders | +650 | +650 | +550 ❄️ |
| James Pearce Jr. | +650 ❄️ | +1600 🔥 | +1200 |
| Quinn Ewers | +1100 🔥 | +600 | +600 |
| Jaxson Dart | +1100 ❄️ | +2500 | +2500 |
| Cam Ward | +1400 | +1600 🔥 | +1400 |
| Will Campbell | +2000 | +2500 🔥 | +2000 |
| Travis Hunter | +2000 | +2000 | +1800 ❄️ |
| Mykel Williams | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Jalen Milroe | +2000 🔥 | +1800 | +1600 ❄️ |
Who will go No. 1 in the 2025 NFL Draft?
Carson Beck (+350)
As Georgia gears up to compete as one of the favorites by the College Football Playoff odds, Beck is receiving major Heisman hype along with being projected as a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Some draftniks expected him to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft as a potential top-15 pick, but he opted to return to the Bulldogs to bolster his stock.
In his first season as Georgia's starter, Beck completed 72.4% of his passes with 24 TDs while throwing for 3,941 yards. He's been praised for his pocket presence and mechanics, along with his ability to work full-field reads.
Per PFF, he was one of just six QBs in the country last year to have an ADOT of 8.5 or more yards and an adjusted completion percentage of 77.5% or better (minimum 300 dropbacks).
Two of the other passers to hit that mark were Williams and Jayden Daniels, the top two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.
If Beck takes another step forward this season, he might end up the obvious front-runner to be the top pick in April. He has no shortage of talent around him either with fellow draft prospects like Trevor Etienne, Oscar Delp, and Earnest Greene III on the Bulldogs offense.
It's early to feel overly confident in any player to go No. 1, but Beck is the best bet at the moment. A $10 winning bet on him pays a $35 profit and these odds might be slashed in half by November.
Best odds: +350 via bet365 | Implied probability: 22.22%
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Shedeur Sanders (+650)
It's no surprise to see Sanders among the favorites to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. With him and his father, Deion, jumping from Jackson State to Colorado this past season, 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, Sanders was clearly not at fault. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound junior threw for 3,230 yards while completing 69.3% of his passes with 27 TDs and just three interceptions.
Like Beck, he was one of the six QBs in the country to have an ADOT of 8.5-plus and an adjusted completion percentage of 77.5% or better. But unlike Beck, there's less stability around him in Boulder - Colorado has an entirely new starting offensive line this season.
Sanders was able to showcase his efficiency and accuracy throughout the season last year despite playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in the country.
The offensive line is an issue once again this year, and it may ultimately hurt Sanders' draft stock.
But many early mock drafts are already predicting the 22-year-old to be the top pick next April and a $10 winning bet on these odds pays a $65 profit.
Best odds: +650 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 13.33%
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James Pearce Jr. (+1600)
In the modern NFL, the quarterback is king, and the NFL draft has reflected that over the last two decades. But every so often, there's a draft class lacking a clear franchise QB type.
While it's too early to say if 2025 has that field general, it's shaping up to have a plethora of talented defensive prospects, making up for 2024's lack of them.
Like the quarterback position, it's not clear which defensive prospect will top the charts, but James Pearce Jr. is certainly a good bet to be the first pass-rusher taken. The Tennessee star racked up 10 sacks and 14.5 TFLs in his first season as a starter last year.
The true junior is bound to keep getting better, too, with his freaky explosiveness and flexibility at 6-foot-5, 243 pounds surely getting the mouths of scouts watering. Pearce's 21.8% pash rush win rate was also the third-highest among power conference edge-rushers last season.
The only three non-QBs to be selected No. 1 in the past 11 NFL drafts have been pass-rushers (Jadeveon Clowney, Myles Garrett, Travon Walker), and these odds are a decent value right now. A winning $10 bet on Pearce pays a $160 profit.
Best odds: +1600 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 5.88%
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My first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to watch
Mykel Williams (+2000)
There are several defensive prospects who could make a push to go No. 1 if the QB class ends up falling short. The two that stand out the most, other than Pearce, are Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham and Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams.
Unlike Graham, Williams plays a position we've seen go No. 1 recently, and he has a very similar profile to that player. Walker was a physical freak known for his versatility and run stuffing ability at Georgia, and it's much of the same with Williams.
He racked up 13 TFLs and nine sacks in his first two seasons with the Bulldogs, but has yet to break out production-wise.
However, the former five-star recruit has the size (6-foot-5, 265) and athleticism the NFL covets in pass rushers. And he was a dominant force in the Bulldogs' opener against Clemson.
If Williams continues to develop his pass rush plan this season, he will be viewed as a potential candidate to be the top pick. A $10 winning bet on him to go No. 1 pays a $200 profit.
Best odds: +2000 via bet365 | Implied probability: 4.76%
2025 NFL Draft odds: Position of No. 1 overall pick
| Position | FanDuel |
|---|---|
| Quarterback | -230 |
| The field | +180 |
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, 2025 doesn't necessarily have an obvious top QB.
That's what makes this market so tough to bet into before the college football season begins. Quarterbacks dominate the first overall pick, but neither Beck nor Sanders are viewed as that blue-chip top choice yet.
It makes it especially difficult to feel confident in the -230 odds when the 2025 NFL Draft is shaping up to be loaded at other premium positions such as offensive tackle and edge rusher.
2025 NFL Draft odds over time
Odds via DraftKings.
| Player | Odds on April 28 | Aug. 1 | Sept. 12 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shedeur Sanders | +100 | +400 | +650 |
| Carson Beck | +300 | +425 | +320 |
| Quinn Ewers | +300 | +950 | +1100 |
| Drew Allar | +850 | +2500 | +3000 |
| Jalen Milroe | +950 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Jaxson Dart | +1200 | +2500 | +1100 |
| Cameron Ward | +1500 | +2200 | +1400 |
| Mykel Williams | +1500 | +1600 | +2000 |
| Patrick Payton | +1800 | +4000 | +4000 |
| Connor Weigman | +2000 | +3500 | +4000 |
| James Pearce Jr. | +2000 | +550 | +650 |
| Will Campbell | +2500 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Harold Perkins Jr. | +2500 | +2200 | +2200 |
| Travis Hunter | +2500 | +2500 | +2000 |
| Mason Graham | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Kelvin Banks Jr. | +3000 | +3000 | +3500 |
| JT Tuimoloau | +3500 | +3500 | +3500 |
| Will Johnson | +3500 | +4000 | +4000 |
| Abdul Carter | +4000 | +5000 | +5000 |
| Deone Walker | +5000 | +5000 | +5000 |
Past NFL draft 1st overall picks
| Year | Pick | Position | School |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Caleb Williams | QB | USC |
| 2023 | Bryce Young | QB | Alabama |
| 2022 | Travon Walker | DE | Georgia |
| 2021 | Trevor Lawrence | QB | Clemson |
| 2020 | Joe Burrow | QB | LSU |
| 2019 | Kyler Murray | QB | Oklahoma |
| 2018 | Baker Mayfield | QB | Oklahoma |
| 2017 | Myles Garrett | DE | Texas A&M |
| 2016 | Jared Goff | QB | California |
| 2015 | Jameis Winston | QB | Florida State |
| 2014 | Jadeveon Clowney | DE | South Carolina |
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?
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck is the favorite to go No. 1 in the 2025 NFL Draft. His shortest odds (+300) imply a 25% 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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