2025 NFL Rookie of the Year Odds: Cam Ward, Abdul Carter Favorites After First Round of NFL Draft
The NFL Draft got off to a hot start on Thursday night, with many of the top stars coming off the board early. Cam Ward and Abdul Carter are the early favorites to be NFL Rookie of the Year on both sides of the ball, but who else is in the mix? Jason Radowitz breaks down the complete Rookie of the Year Odds after the First Round of the NFL Draft.
Jason Radowitz - April 25, 2025, 5:30 PM EDT
5 min2025 NFL Rookie of the Year Odds: Cam Ward, Abdul Carter Favorites After First Round of NFL Draft
This year's draft class doesn't have an insane amount of hype. But there are still some players who will become All-Pros one day.
Multiple blockbuster trades happened last night. The Jaguars traded for the No. 2 overall pick in this year's NFL Draft to land two-way player and Heisman winner, Travis Hunter. Jacksonville took a big swing, trading a massive haul for Hunter. It was aggressive but an exciting trade for the Jaguars, who clearly valued Hunter super highly.
Meanwhile, the Giants traded up for Jaxson Dart and selected Dart before any team took a chance on Shedeur Sanders. Sanders isn't on a team heading into Round 2, but he'll be drafted very shortly.
However, despite the Giants' selection of Dart, New York has already confirmed that Russell Wilson will be the starting quarterback. Dart might not even get a chance on the field for a couple of seasons, but that could be good for his development.
Therefore, we don't have to worry about Dart when it comes to the Rookie of the Year odds. Instead, we're looking for players who can be elite ball players right away. I'll discuss the best bets for the offensive and defensive Rookie of the Year after Round 1 of the NFL Draft.
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2025 NFL Draft Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds
Offensive Rookie of the Year | Odds | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|
Cam Ward | +330 | 23.3% |
Ashton Jeanty | +340 | 22.7% |
Travis Hunter | +600 | 14.3% |
Tetairoa McMillan | +650 | 13.3% |
Omarion Hampton | +1400 | 6.7% |
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NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds
Cam Ward (+330) Click here to see the best NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds
The New York Giants offered multiple first-round picks and more for the No. 1 overall pick, but the Titans declined to draft Cam Ward themselves.
Ward should be the starting quarterback for the Titans on Day 1. He could also be the only rookie quarterback to start for a team this year.
Typically, a quarterback's statistics will stand out more than those of a running back or a wide receiver. So I'd say Ward is a no-brainer selection at +330. He could have some growing pains, but if there isn't another quarterback competing against him, he's got a pretty easy road to winning this thing.
Other Options: Ashton Jeanty (+340), Tetairoa McMillian (+650) Click here to see the best NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds
I know everyone wants to get hyped about Travis Hunter. But if he genuinely wants to play both sides of the ball in the NFL, it'll be hard to get elite numbers on either side of the ball. This is the NFL. As a rookie, he's got a lot to learn and figure out before he can be elite on both sides of the ball.
Ashton Jeanty figures to be a Day 1 starter for the Raiders. Las Vegas has a much better offense than in recent years. He's also going to be involved in a run-heavy offensive scheme with Chip Kelly and Pete Carroll.
Meanwhile, if you're looking for a long shot, Tetairoa McMillian is a fun one. McMillian should be the Panthers' No. 1 receiver this season. Bryce Young improved drastically last year and is much more confident heading into this season.
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds
Abdul Carter (+240) Click here to see the best NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds
There's no question Abdul Carter is the best defensive player in this year's draft class. He led the nation in tackles for a loss and had 12 sacks last season. Now, he'll be a part of a defense that is already electric between Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Dexter Lawrence.
The Giants needed a quarterback, but once Ward was off the board, they went with the best player on the board and waited to trade for a quarterback later. It all worked out. The Giants got the best defensive player and will use him like a starter on Day 1.
Other Option: Mason Graham (+750) Click here to see the best NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds
The Cleveland Browns drafted Mason Graham with the No. 5 overall pick. They traded away Travis Hunter at the No. 2 pick for more picks down the line, along with the No. 5 pick.
Clearly, the Browns love Mason Graham, or they wouldn't have made this move. Graham will be on the same defensive line as Myles Garrett, which can help him earn more sacks and tackles for losses as the quarterback scrambles away from Garrett. He was also super dominant against the run with the Wolverines last year.
At +750, it's worth a shot.
More NFL Draft Odds
