2025 NFL Draft- Early Predictions for the Number 1 Pick

Throughout the 2023 campaign, Williams kept up that form and was a lock for the first overall selection.

The 2024 Draft is in our rearview mirror, but around ten months from now, in 2025, the NFL will be back for another highly anticipated draft. Dissimilar to 2024, however, there isn't a clear front-runner to be selected first overall, thus sparking debate about who has the greatest potential to be next year's #1 Draft selection.

The 2024 college season will undoubtedly present some late entries for the No.1 overall draft pick race. Still, the early bird gets the worm, so today, we’re looking at several standout contenders currently challenging for the coveted spot.

Bookies Favorite: Shedeur Sanders

Position: QB

Team: Colorado

Sanders' status as the odds-on favorite to take first overall in the 2025 NFL Draft is unsurprising. He and his father, Deion, were the subject of much speculation over the Buffaloes' financial commitment to their football program after they transferred from Jackson State to Colorado last season.

Sanders was not to blame, even if Colorado failed miserably in the final stages and did not qualify for a bowl game. The junior quarterback had an impressive stat line: 3,230 yards passing, 27 touchdowns, and only three interceptions. He was 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 215 pounds.

Despite playing behind a nation-worst offensive line, Sanders showed his efficiency and accuracy all season long. Even at the age of 22, several mock drafts have him pegged as the first overall selection in April of next year.

Sanders's Biggest Threat: Carson Beck

Position: QB

Team: Georgia

Georgia is preparing to contend as the frontrunner in the college football championship odds, and one of the biggest arguments for this case is the presence of a returning Carson Beck.

Beck is generating significant Heisman buzz and is also expected to be selected early in the 2025 NFL Draft. Despite being projected as a potential top-15 choice in the 2024 NFL Draft by several draft analysts, he decided to return to the Bulldogs to enhance his value as a player.

During his inaugural season as Georgia's starting quarterback, Beck achieved an impressive completion rate of 72.4% for his passes, resulting in 24 touchdowns and 3,941 passing yards. He has received acclaim for his skill in managing the pocket and executing precise movements and his aptitude for analyzing the entire field before making decisions.

First Overall Pick: 2025 NFL Draft Odds

At the most trusted NFL betting sites, the odds board is unsurprisingly led by two highly skilled quarterbacks: Shedeur Sanders from Colorado and Carson Beck from Georgia. While bookmakers currently have Sanders as the frontrunner to be selected as the number one pick, Beck has a higher probability of winning the Heisman Trophy, and he was the original odds leader for the 2025 No.1 draft pick when the prices initially opened up… Some food for thought.

More importantly, Beck and Sanders aren’t the only players worthy of a 2025 No.1 overall draft selection. The current odds don’t set draft pick placements in stone, but they are a respectable base guideline to utilize; let’s take a look:

• Shedeur Sanders [+380]
• Carson Beck [+450]
• James Pearce Jr. [+550]
• Quinn Ewers [+950]
• Mykel Williams [+1600]
• Will Campbell [+2000]
• Travis Hunter [+2000]
• Jalen Milroe [+2000]
• Cameron Ward [+2200]
• Harold Perkins Jr. [+2200]   

No.1 Draft Pick Dark Horse: James Pearce Jr.

Position: Edge

Team: Tennessee

Although it is still early, I must admit that the current group of quarterback prospects does not instill a significant amount of confidence in me. That inference suggests that another high-value position, such doias an offensive lineman or edge defender, may be selected as the first player in the draft, and this should spark instant interest in Tennessee Volunteers' defensive end, James Pearce Jr.

Pearce Jr. is a dynamic and powerful player who showed exceptional speed and agility as he aggressively rushed into the other team's backfield, resulting in an impressive tally of 8.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss during the current season.

According to PFF, he received the top rating among all defensive ends in the SEC, with an exceptional score of 86.7. We’re also looking at a player who achieved a pass-rush rating of 92.4, which was the second-best among all Power Five football players. The only player with a higher score was UCLA's Laiatu Latu, who was the first defensive player selected in the 2024 selection…. Impressive stuff!

The Value Pick: Mykel Williams

Position: DL

Team: Georgia

If Georgia is tipped to win the championship by oddsmakers, and should the old saying “defense wins championships” reigns true this season, then Mykel Williams, at +1400 odds to become next year's No.1 draft pick selection, might just be the biggest value from a betting standpoint on the board!

Georgia's defense has consistently produced NFL-level players in recent years, and even more are expected to emerge in the future. That includes Williams, a 6-foot-5, 265-pound defensive lineman who has made significant contributions to the Bulldogs' team over the previous two seasons.

Williams achieved 4.5 sacks in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons. However, he also showed his skill by causing a fumble, recovering a fumble, and defending two passes last year, showcasing his continuous improvement and accumulation of collegiate experience.

Williams is highly likely to make significant progress in 2024. If he does, then he should ascend to a position near the top of the draft rankings.

Teams in the NFL seeking to strengthen their defensive line should prioritize targeting Williams in the upcoming draft, but they will probably require an early pick to get his services.