Abdul Carter's No. 1 pick odds take a huge jump amid NFL Draft 'best player' hype

As the NFL postseason winds to an end and teams prepare for the draft, more focus is going toward the Tennessee Titans and what they might do with the No. 1 overall pick.

Miami quarterback Cam Ward is the +120 favorite to go No. 1, and Colorado dual-threat Travis Hunter saw a recent surge after Titans president Chad Brinker said the team won’t pass on a “generational talent.” Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who met with the Titans on Friday, also has top pick buzz.

However, a new name has recently shot up the board and this player’s odds suggest he has a real shot to be drafted before anyone. That player is Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter.

NFL Draft No. 1 pick odds (BetMGM)

• Cam Ward (+120)
• Abdul Carter (+200)
• Travis Hunter (+220)
• Shedeur Sanders (+650)
• Jaxson Dart (+6600)

Carter moved from a distant +1000 odds at BetMGM last Tuesday to +200 odds by Sunday, jumping ahead of both Hunter (+220) and Sanders (+650). It’s a significant leap from +6600 odds earlier in January.

The reason for the movement seems to be typical draft-time buzz. The more analysts think about what the Titans might do, the more they seem to think the team will go with best player over biggest need. That’s reflected in recent commentary before the odds movement.

"Abdul Carter is the best player in the draft."@MoveTheSticks and @PatMcAfeeShow discuss who the Titans can take with the No. 1 overall pick pic.twitter.com/mKHlgKR0Vb

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 23, 2025

Said this on yesterday's Sportscenter Special…

For me, it's Abdul Carter 1st overall and then there's a gap to every other prospect in this class.

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) January 23, 2025

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah had Carter No. 1 in his latest mock draft and told ESPN’s Pat McAfee that Carter is the best player in the draft. ESPN’s Matt Miller said there’s a gap between Carter at No. 1 and every other player in the draft.

The mock draft changes of heart seem to stem from Brinker’s “generational talent” comment, so it’s obviously liable to change with more information. Carter is nonetheless worth paying attention to. Star pass rushers are always a good bet at the top the draft.