With Top 3 Locked In, Draft Night Drama Surrounds Sanders, Jeanty

Some years, breathless debate around the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft extends right up to draft night. Other years, such as this week’s draft, not so much.

For weeks, the first three picks have been seemingly locked in, with Cam Ward (-20,000 at BET99*) set to go first, Travis Hunter (-900) second, and Abdul Carter (-600) third.

While little drama surrounds that trio, draft-night intrigue can be found further down the board with two of college football’s biggest names from a year ago.

Early in the pre-draft process, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was debated against Ward as the draft’s top passer and looked likely to be a top-three pick. As the draft drew closer, however, Ward emerged as the clear favourite while Sander’s status cooled.

Now, Sanders is likely to just sneak into the top 10, with his draft position line of pick 8.5 shaded heavily to the Over (-340, Under +260).

The Saints, picking ninth, are the favourite at +195 but lead a pack of five teams with odds shorter than 10/1 to draft him. The Browns (+275), Steelers (+275), Giants (+350), and Raiders (+850) follow New Orleans.   

While Sanders has been maligned for his unflashy play, Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty stole the show and dominated defenses in 2024 while chasing records set by Barry Sanders. With a draft position line of 6.5 favouring the Under, at -240 (Over +190), Jeanty is set to be the highest taken tailback since Saquon Barkley went No. 2 in 2018.

More than a decade removed from an iconic partnership with Marshawn Lynch, Pete Carroll and the Raiders, picking sixth, are a minus-money favourite to take Jeanty (-125). Vegas is closely followed by a pair of teams who could pair Jeanty with a former first overall pick at quarterback in the Bears and Jaguars (+280 each), while the Patriots (+950) and Broncos (+1,200) round out teams with odds shorter than 15/1.

So while the top three may be settled, with polarizing talents like Sanders and Jeanty yet to have their destinations decided, there’s plenty of drama to unfold come draft night.

Click here to view all NFL Draft betting markets at BET99.

*Odds as of April 21, 2025.