The 2025 NFL Draft is still more than three months away, but the current owner of the No. 1 overall pick has already stirred the drama.
New Tennessee Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi said Wednesday that while the team wants to stockpile draft picks, he won’t pass on a “generational talent.”
Many took that as a thinly-veiled mention of Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, Colorado’s two-way playmaking star. That included oddsmakers, who quickly adjusted their markets for the No. 1 overall pick.
Hunter, who was a +1500 longshot to go No. 1 at BetMGM on Tuesday, had seen his odds shorten all the way to +150 after Borgonzi’s comments. That’s behind only Miami quarterback Cam Ward, who shifted from the -210 odds-on favorite to +100 in a little more than 24 hours.
Titans president of football operations Chad Brinker said the Titans won’t pass on a “generational talent” if they determine that player exists in the 2025 draft. However, Tennessee’s brass was in agreement that the franchise is open to dealing the No. 1 overall pick.
There are still months of smoke screens and negotiations to navigate, along with thousands of miles to be traveled to all-star games and prospect workouts. For now, the race to be the first name called to the stage by commissioner Roger Goodell on April 24 appears to be a four-man race:
NO. 1 OVERALL PICK ODDS*
Cam Ward, QB, Miami (+100)
Travis Hunger, CB/WR, Colorado (+150)
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado (+350)
Abdul Carter, DE, Penn State (+900)
Will Campbell, OT, LSU (+5000)
Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss (+5000)
*BetMGM
Hunter’s sudden ascension to the second favorite spot had many sportsbook sweating. At BetMGM, Hunter is the book’s biggest liability, with the public backing him with 37.9 percent of all bets and 19.3 percent of the money to go No. 1 overall.
Ward is the book’s second biggest liability, leading the way with 48 percent of the money while being second to Hunter with 16.3 percent of all bets. Sanders is third in both with 14.3 percent of the bets and 17.8 percent of the money backing him.
Borgonzi said the Titans “want to make 30 draft picks over the next three years,” with “12 of those to be in the top 100s,” so he will be open to offers if the phone rings. Cleveland current holds the No. 2 overall pick, followed by the New York Giants, New England and Jacksonville.
Las Vegas, which could be in the market for one of the top quarterbacks, currently sits No. 6. Quarterback is also a major question mark for the Titans, who have only 2023 draft pick Will Levis under contract for next season, and he failed to lock down the position this season.
“The quarterback is the most important position, arguably in sports,” Borgonzi said. “So you have to solidify the quarterback position. We’re going to be relentless attacking this until we find the answer.”
