by AAA Sports
Sunday, Mar 30, 2025The chalk says quarterback Cameron Ward to the Tennessee Titans, edge rusher Abdul Carter to the Cleveland Browns and wideout / defensive back Travis Hunter to the New York Giants. But after Ward, who really knows what is going on in the minds of NFL team coaches and general managers? Along with having one of the top five picks in the draft comes the danger of losing your job if you make the wrong move.
Here’s what the odds say for some of the key players at the top end of the draft. What teams need what, who might pick whom, and why?
CAMERON WARD – There seems little likelihood that the Titans will throw a curveball here. They need a quarterback, Ward is simply the best quarterback on the board. That’s why he’s the consensus (-2000) pick. Tennessee is not even bothering to play the Best Player Available tune, and there’s less than zero chance that they’ll move the pick. Add in the fact that Ward has said that he actually wants to play for the Titans, and this is as close to a lock as you’re going to see on April 24.
ABDUL CARTER – This is where things could get sticky. Carter is a (-200) favorite to hear his name called next, but these are Cleveland Browns we’re dealing with, and nothing is ever certain. Picking Carter here to pair with Myles Garrett and creating a dominant D-line is enticing, but that means they’ll have to stick it out with Deshaun Watson, who will be dragging a $230 million guaranteed deal into the season along with two Achilles surgeries. Do the Browns want to cut bait and see what Shedeur Sanders (+340 to be the pick here) can do? Watson supposedly is making good progress on his latest heel surgery. What to do? What to do?
TRAVIS HUNTER – Signing veterans Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson is a pretty clear sign that the New York Giants will be content with treading water while they stockpile talent, and all signs point to Travis Hunter (-165) at No. 3. Either that, or the Giants are convinced that the Browns will bite on Sanders and want to have their two QBs ready to go rather than pick someone off the waiver wire. Why else would they sign TWO quarterbacks who have maxed out and probably don’t have enough juice to get the NYG to the playoffs? If they take Sanders, Winston should pack his suitcase.
PATRIOTS and JAGUARS
Here’s what the odds say for some of the key players at the top end of the draft. What teams need what, who might pick whom, and why?
CAMERON WARD – There seems little likelihood that the Titans will throw a curveball here. They need a quarterback, Ward is simply the best quarterback on the board. That’s why he’s the consensus (-2000) pick. Tennessee is not even bothering to play the Best Player Available tune, and there’s less than zero chance that they’ll move the pick. Add in the fact that Ward has said that he actually wants to play for the Titans, and this is as close to a lock as you’re going to see on April 24.
ABDUL CARTER – This is where things could get sticky. Carter is a (-200) favorite to hear his name called next, but these are Cleveland Browns we’re dealing with, and nothing is ever certain. Picking Carter here to pair with Myles Garrett and creating a dominant D-line is enticing, but that means they’ll have to stick it out with Deshaun Watson, who will be dragging a $230 million guaranteed deal into the season along with two Achilles surgeries. Do the Browns want to cut bait and see what Shedeur Sanders (+340 to be the pick here) can do? Watson supposedly is making good progress on his latest heel surgery. What to do? What to do?
TRAVIS HUNTER – Signing veterans Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson is a pretty clear sign that the New York Giants will be content with treading water while they stockpile talent, and all signs point to Travis Hunter (-165) at No. 3. Either that, or the Giants are convinced that the Browns will bite on Sanders and want to have their two QBs ready to go rather than pick someone off the waiver wire. Why else would they sign TWO quarterbacks who have maxed out and probably don’t have enough juice to get the NYG to the playoffs? If they take Sanders, Winston should pack his suitcase.
PATRIOTS and JAGUARS
***New England picks at No. 4, and they have their QB for present and future in Drake Maye. They need help everywhere after back-to-back 4-13 seasons, so Hunter and his two-position portfolio would seem to be a perfect fit. But the odds (+125) say the first pick will be a left tackle to shore up one of the worst offensive lines in team history. Armand Membou could be entrusted to protect Maye’s backside as talk of taking Will Campbell appears to have cooled down a tad.
***Jaguar fans – those who are still on board, anyway – would love to see both QBs, Carter and either Campbell or Membou taken ahead of them, opening the door for J-Ville to cash in with Hunter. That is unlikely to happen, but they can still dream. The most likely scenario is that the Jags sigh, then accept their consolation prize – defensive tackle Mason Graham. Not the worst thing in the world for Jacksonville, but Hunter would fit in better playing full-time on one side of the ball and part-time on the other.
