Shedeur Sanders favored to be No. 1 pick in 2025 NFL Draft, Arch Manning next?

A day after the Chicago Bears selected USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, one American sportsbook decided to post a betting market for next year’s No. 1 pick.

Most bettors don’t exactly love the idea of having their money tied up for 12 whole months in a low-limit market, but I went ahead and shot a text over to one of my buddies who lives in Las Vegas and bets professionally.

"Who’s the favorite?" I asked.

"It’s got to be Quinn Ewers," the bettor replied.

Great guess. Once the 21-year-old quarterback announced he was returning to Texas after the Longhorns finished 12-2 with a College Football Playoff appearance, you knew he would be in the mix to go first overall.

DraftKings Sportsbook opened Ewers at 3-1, the second favorite.

"There’s somebody shorter than 3-1?!" the bettor responded.  

No more than 15 seconds after I informed him that Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was the even-money (+100) favorite to be taken first overall in 2025, my phone started doing vibrational circles on the table.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

"Hello."

"Is there a ‘No’ price?" he quickly inquired.

It’s funny how the betting mind works. This fella couldn’t have been any less interested in next year’s No. 1 pick market, but once I told him about the head-scratching favorite at a questionable price, his wheels spun out.

"Sanders has a ton of upside and football is in his blood," the bettor continued. "I thought he played pretty well behind one of the worst [offensive] lines in football. Only three interceptions over 400 throws was impressive, too.

"But there’s no way he should be even money."

Coincidentally, DraftKings took the market off the board over the weekend and re-opened it first thing Monday