A darkhorse Penn State star is apparently gaining steam as the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. 

Over the past week, Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter jumped from +1000 to +180 at BetMGM Sportsbook to the top player taken in April’s draft. 

Carter passed Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter, who went from +150 to +250, as the player with the second-best odds to go at the top of the draft. 

Miami quarterback Cam Ward (+105) remains the favorite to be the first player off the board, although it appears the race is tightening with months still to go. 

Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders looks as if his draft stock is falling, going from an early favorite to be No. 1 to +850 as of Wednesday. 

2025 NFL Draft No. 1 pick odds

No other player has odds better than 50/1. 

Carter is widely viewed as the top defensive player in the 2025 class after a dominant season at Penn State. 

Across 16 games this season, the star pass rusher had 68 total tackles, including 24 for a loss, and 12 sacks, helping lead a Nittany Lions defense that was among the best in college football.

Betting on the NFL?

The Titans currently hold the first pick in the draft, followed by the Browns and Giants, although all three teams could be in the market for a quarterback. 

Earlier this month, Tennessee’s president of football operations Chad Brinker said the team “won’t pass on a generational talent,” which at the time was seen as a potential hint at interest in Heisman winner Hunter.