2025 NFL draft top pick predictions: Early chances at No. 1 - ESPN

It's never too soon to look ahead to next year's NFL draft. Which prospects are the early candidates to be the No. 1 pick in 2025?

Caleb Williams was the consensus favorite last summer to be selected at the top of the draft in 2024, and nothing changed throughout the process; the Bears took the talented passer at No. 1 in April. But 2025 looks vastly different. There isn't an overwhelming top-pick favorite among the signal-callers, and this group of defensive prospects is loaded at the top. In fact, it sort of reminds of the 2022 class when the top five picks were all defense. Quarterback has dominated the top of the draft, but defensive end (5) and offensive tackle (2) have also produced No. 1 selections over the past 25 classes.

Even though we're more than nine months out from the draft, let's take a run through the most likely candidates to go No. 1, including why each could make the leap and a way-too-early projected percentage chance for each to land at the top of the board. Let's start with the QB that I had going No. 1 in my way-too-early mock draft from May.

Jump to a tier:
Serious contenders (5)
Potential risers (2)
Long shots (6)

Predicted chance of going No. 1: 20%

Why he could be the top pick: Beck is the most common name mentioned at the top of this class of signal-callers, but there are still some questions that he needs to answer heading into his second season as a full-time starter.

Beck finished last season with 3,941 passing yards, 24 touchdown throws and 6 interceptions. At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, he's a linear-built passer who wastes little time getting the ball out of his hand. His average of 2.38 seconds before the throw tied for the nation's quickest release last season. He also finished with a 72.4%