The NFL regular season may have just ended, but it’s not too early to start looking at early draft odds. With college football almost over and the draft order set, we can finally start looking at who are some of the best early bets to go first. We’ll dive into some of the top prospects that might be the first name call in this year’s NFL Draft!
Cameron Ward had a standout here at Miami after transferring from Washington State. He took the Hurricanes to an almost undefeated record. He put up 4300 passing yards with another 200 yards of rushing. Pair that with a total of 43 TDs this season, there is no wonder why scouts are so high on him. With Tennessee most likely selecting first, he’s a top candidate for a team desperate for an NFL-level QB.
Ward is known for his passing ability, but he’s also spry on his feet. With the NFL continuing to move away from pure pocket passing QBs, Ward might be the answer for the first pick. Currently, DraftKings is giving him the best odds to go number one at -130, which could be a great value.
The name Shedeur Sanders has already become a household name for anyone who follows college football. The son of Deion Sander, Shedeur showed his talent with the Buffalo this year. He passed for over 4100 yards and had a total of 41 TDs. He’s a quick, agile QB with excellent mobility. However, he has been known to stick around in the pocket too long, resulting in plenty of sacks. This resulted in him having negative 50 rushing yards this year on 100 attempts. Don’t let that scare you, as college counts sacks as negative rushing yards.
Shedeur is a versatile quarterback capable of making high-level explosive plays. He is slightly older than Ward, though, at 23 by the time of the NFL draft. If he can impress in the combine, he may still go high in a weak quarterback class, even number one.
Currently sitting with the second-best odds of landing one, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Titans selected him or traded down for someone else to pick him at one. However, these odds don’t feel amazing, as there is some pessimism in NFL circles about his ability to play at the next level.
The current Heisman winner, Travis Hunter, wowed with his elite two-way potential. As a cornerback, he was impressive, grabbing four INTs and 36 tackles on the season. His elite athleticism led him to be one of the most electric players in college football. However, his receiver numbers are really what make him an NFL-level talent. With nearly 1300 receiving yards and 16 total TDs this season, he made plays out of nothing. He was the main target for Colorado amongst a field of impressive receives. His ability to make plays on the ball and create separation could make him an elite NFL receiver.
Unfortunately for Hunter, the two-way play doesn’t exist in the NFL. With him primarily being considered a WR, it’s impacted his draft stock. Pair that with the number of snaps he’s already played over his three years of college football, and it’s given scouts some concerns about his NFL projections.
If there is one player we could see impress at the NFL Combine, it’s Hunter. He’s not only an excellent athlete but, by all reports, an excellent character, too. With the QB prospects not as enticing as other drafts, it’s not unlike that Hunter could rise past Ward and Sanders to snag the number one position.
With his current draft odds to go one at +850, there is a ton of meat on the bone here. We could easily see a franchise fall in love with him and make the push to get the number one pick. It doesn’t feel like the Titans will take him, but if they’re interested in cashing in on their draft position for assets, it’s very possible Hunter could steal the number one selection still!
Moving on to another receiver with McMillan. He might be one of the least well-known names on this list, but he has elite potential. Playing for three years at Arizona, he managed back-to-back years with over 1300 receiving yards. In his sophomore season, he even broke 1400, and he probably would have this year, too, if he had played 13 games.
McMillan has the size to be dominant in the NFL. At 6’5 "and 210 lbs, he’s a physical beast even by NFL standards. His elite size, speed, and athleticism can’t be understated. He can get up and win jump balls like a tight end and has the speed to beat cornerbacks off the line. There isn’t a ton McMillan hasn’t shown.
We’ll have to see what he looks like next to the other receivers like Hunter at the combine, but he could be a riser in this draft. It doesn’t feel likely that the Titans would pass up on a QB or Hunter to take him right now, but for a long shot at +4000, he has the talent to be the number-one pick. Keep an eye on him as the draft process progresses over the next few months because he’ll undoubtedly be a name at the top of many boards.
Lastly, we have Will Campbell. He is the most unlikely to get to the number one pick, but it’s possible. If none of the QBs show they have elite NFL potential, a strong offensive lineman is never a bad option for a team deep in a rebuild like the Titans. Of course, there is a good chance the Titans could trade down and still secure him, but we wanted to include him on the list anyway. At +5000 odds, he’s a massive dark horse to go first, but there are some reasons he may rise.
At 6’6, 320 lbs, he is a beast. At LSU, he was one of college football's most impressive offensive linemen. He has the footwork and size to be a pro bowler someday, which can’t be understated. With the success of teams like the Lions drafting offensive linemen high in a rebuild, we could see a team like the Titans punt another year and try to build slowly. The only way this happens is if all the skill positions fall in the combine and there are no trades for the Titans. It’s not impossible to happen, but unlikely. Still, this guy is someone to watch in case things go sideways!