The top of the 2025 NFL Draft is taking shape.
As noted by Pro Football Talk on Thursday, the betting odds for the top seven picks in next week’s first round have solidified, with oddsmakers establishing clear favorites for the Titans (Miami quarterback Cam Ward), Browns (Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter), Giants (Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter), Patriots (LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell), Jaguars (Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham), Raiders (Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty) and Jets (Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou).
It might take a trade to shake up the draft. Here are three teams that could add fireworks to the first round.
New Orleans Saints (5-12)
2025 draft capital: 1-9 • 2-40 • 3-71 • 3-93 • 4-112 • 4-131 • 6-184 • 7-248 • 7-254
Proposed trade: 1-9, 3-93, 4-131 to the JETS for 1-7, 5-145
The Saints need a quarterback after last week’s report that 2025 projected starter Derek Carr has a shoulder injury that could force him to miss the season. If the draft goes according to plan, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, widely viewed as the No. 2 quarterback in this year’s class, will be available when the Panthers pick one spot ahead of New Orleans at No. 8.
To avoid a scenario where they’re leapfrogged for Sanders, the Saints could make a modest move two spots up the draft by agreeing to a trade with the Jets.
Our proposed trade mirrors New York’s 2024 trade with Minnesota, in which the Vikings sent the No. 11 overall pick, a 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 129), and a 2024 fifth-round pick (No. 157) to the Jets for No. 10 overall and a 2024 sixth-round pick (No. 203).
New York drops two spots in the first round in our proposed trade while moving up two in the second and 31 on Day 3, gaining five points in draft capital according to Over The Cap’s Fitzgerald-Spielberger NFL Draft trade value chart.
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
2025 draft capital: 1-21, 3-83, 4-123, 5-156, 6-185, 7-229
Proposed trade: 1-21, 3-83, 5-156 to the Panthers for 1-8, 4-111
Per NFL Draft IQ, the Steelers are more likely to trade back than move up, but if New Orleans doesn’t snag Sanders before the Panthers pick, they could be inclined to pull the trigger on a massive deal.
Pittsburgh needs a quarterback. While Aaron Rodgers remains an option, Sanders can potentially become a long-term solution. With Rodgers, the Steelers will likely search for a quarterback again next offseason.
The Panthers would add a pick to their 2025 arsenal, giving them 10 picks in the 2025 draft.
According to Draft IQ, they’re most likely to draft a defensive lineman (39 percent), linebacker (30 percent), or wide receiver (12 percent) in the first round. The Panthers should have excellent choices at the three positions if they move back to No. 21. Per ESPN Analytics Draft Day Predictor, Tennessee edge James Pearce Jr., Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, and UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger are among the players who are likely to be available at No. 21, giving Carolina ample quality options to choose from even after dropping 13 spots.
New England Patriots (4-13)
2025 draft capital: 1-4 • 2-38 • 3-69 • 3-77 • 4-106 • 5-144 • 7-217 • 7-220 • 7-238
Proposed trade: 2-38, 3-77, 5-144 to the VIKINGS for 1-24, 2026 fourth-round pick
While New England might want to trade out of the No. 4 spot, they should instead consider a trade into the back-end of the first round.
Quarterback Drake Maye is an ascending star, and this would be a good year to add two building blocks under contract for the next five seasons.
New England must still surround Maye with skill-position weapons if it selects offensive lineman Will Campbell at No. 4. Someone like three-year junior Missouri wideout Luther Burden III (6-feet, 206 pounds), Sports Info Solutions‘ No. 17 overall prospect, is likely to be available at No. 24 but should be off the board by the time New England is on the clock in Round 2.
With a week until the first round, Minnesota ranks last in 2025 draft capital, possessing four picks, including just two (No. 24, No. 97) in the top 100.
The Vikings would likely relish replenishing their draft stock while only parting with one of their eight picks in 2026.
