Who will be the first name called?
With most of free agency out of the way now is the time to look at who will be the number one pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
There are a few candidates for the teams to select and here we go through the main ones and look at the betting odds.
Cam Ward (Quarterback, Miami) – 1/3
Cam Ward was someone that no scout had as a potential number one pick a couple of years ago. However, he has ascended at a rapid speed and is now the man on everyone lips.
Ward was a high school prospect at Texas but was not showing much. After a bit of time at Washington State and then Miami he became a Heisman finalist and touted as the number one pick.
Ward is the one quarterback in this year’s class that has untapped potential and could be elite. He has everything that the modern-day NFL quarterback needs.
He can process everything very quickly and he is lethally accurate. On top of that he has the ability to use his legs and run at quick speed.
On top of that he can extend plays for a long time with his legs and then has the confidence to make any throw he sees. Not only does he have all of that he also does not feel the pressure and has had many fourth quarter comebacks for Miami.
However, it is not all positives with Ward. When he is extending plays his ball security does go out the window. He relies heavily on his arm talent and when he starts to throw big bombs down the field his accuracy does drop off. Also, he throws across his body far too much.
All in all, he is the best quarterback in this year’s class, and he has bags of potential to become something special in the NFL. He also has the potential to not work as well. He is a risk, but he is one worth taking at pick number one.
Abdul Carter (Edge, Penn State) – 12/5
Abdul Carter was a four-star recruit when he arrived in Penn State and very quickly, they knew they had a good one.
Carter has been given comparisons to Micah Parsons because both players were at Penn State and wore number 11. However, Carter is more of a natural edge rusher whereas Parsons is a linebacker/edge hybrid. Carter did play as an off-ball linebacker at one point, but he truly became elite when he moved to edge.
Carter is super athletic and has a motor that just does not stop running during games.
He has a freakish first step and shows amazing agility with his body as he bends around the O-linemen. He has all the moves that an edge rusher needs and is violent in his pursuit of the quarterback.
Carter does not have many weaknesses, but he is still developing as a player. He relies heavily on his athleticism and needs to come up with a more complete pass rush plan.
It is not unfair to say that he could become stronger over time and his hand technique needs to improve when he makes initial contact with the opponent.
All that being said this guy could be truly special in the NFL and could become the next big pass rush specialist. Most of his weaknesses can be coached out of him and he has elite traits that will appeal to many NFL teams.
Von Miller is a fair comparison for Carter, and he is a legitimate contender for the first overall pick.
Travis Hunter (Corner/Wide Receiver, Colorado) – 16/1
Travis Hunter is a unique player to say the least.
It has been a long time since anyone has seen a guy who can play two positions at this level.
Hunter originally played for Jackson State before moving over to Colorado in 2023. Once he was in Colorado, he started to blow up with all the attention that Colorado was getting. In 2024 he had 14 touchdowns and was also ranked first among power five corners with 400+ coverage snaps.
Hunter has elite ball skills which translate to both sides of the game. His route running is great, and he has the smarts to process what is going on at incredible speed. He is a very twitchy player who possesses many moves to beat the opposition or mirror a receiver.
He has an incredible work ethic and is conditioned so well that he can play both sides of the ball. On top of that he also has the competitiveness to go full speed at every play.
Obviously, it is not all positives for Hunter and one of the biggest concerns whether or not he can keep up this workload. Playing both sides of the ball in college meant he was involved in an unbelievable amount of work.
He only weighs 185lbs which is fine for a corner but not fantastic and so there are durability concerns. Also, he does get bullied sometimes by bigger receivers and then he can become grabby.
Hunter has obvious potential to become an absolute stud in the NFL. The fact that he can be a corner, and a wide receiver also provides great versatility for any team who takes him.
