NFL Draft Number 2 Pick
The Tennessee Titans need a quarterback and they’re going to get one when Cameron Ward’s name is announced as the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Cleveland Browns need a quarterback, too, but they are unlikely to take one. Unlike past seasons, where we have had a pretty good handle on the top three or top five that will be selected, we don’t this year, and the NFL Draft Number 2 Pick odds are where we need to start looking.
With Ward -10000 to go first and -20000 to be the first QB selected, there has been a lot of speculation as to what the Browns will do. Is Shedeur Sanders possibly in play? Will they wait until Pick 33 to take a QB or maybe use the first pick of the second round to move up into the first round? Is Travis Hunter the guy that they want to take? What about Abdul Carter? Are they thinking about something completely different like a trade down?
Keep in mind that NFL Draft odds are exceptionally fluid and will move around a ton with each piece of news and each mock draft from a well-respected pundit. For now, though, here are the NFL Draft Number 2 Pick odds and some insights as to where the Browns could be leaning.
2025 NFL Draft Number 2 Pick Odds
- Travis Hunter -330
- Abdul Carter +225
- Shedeur Sanders 14/1
- Cameron Ward 40/1
- Jaxson Dart 50/1
- Mason Graham 70/1
- Tyler Warren 75/1
- Ashton Jeanty 75/1
- All others 100/1 or higher
Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook as of April 15, 7:00 a.m. PT
2025 NFL Draft Number 2 Pick Analysis
The first thing you need to know about Hunter is that he is graded as a cornerback for any DraftKings prop. It doesn’t really matter if the Browns, Giants, or some other team view him as a wide receiver. He’ll be graded as a cornerback at DK in terms of position total prop bets and things like that.
Now, we’ve seen a lot of movement in this market, where the Giants, who will pick third, have also been favored to get Hunter’s services. Recently, the Browns seem enamored with him and the likelihood that they will take the Colorado kid is shown by the current betting market.
Despite that, I think there is good value on Penn State’s Abdul Carter. The Browns did sign Myles Garrett to an extension, so I think people feel like Carter isn’t really in play, as Cleveland already has an elite pass rusher. But, think about how teams scheme for Garrett and try to stay away from his side of the field as much as possible. Now imagine Carter on the other side. Talk about picking your poison.
Given that the Browns still don’t really have a QB (sorry Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett), they could draft Hunter and use him primarily on defense, as Denzel Ward has some concussion concerns and both Martin Emerson Jr. and Greg Newsome II have been inconsistent. Emerson played 77% of Cleveland’s defensive snaps last season and had zero interceptions with just five pass breakups. Newsome may also be a trade candidate during the draft.
I certainly don’t believe that the Browns are happy with their wide receiver room and Hunter is a freak athlete who instantly upgrades that position in a big way, but the Browns can wreak absolute havoc on defense with two stud pass rushers.
Furthermore, Paul Hembekides of ESPN ran a study in 2024 that was shared by Adam Schefter on X that wide receivers had the lowest percentage of second contracts with the team that drafted them from 2000-19. Now, there’s no telling if that trend will continue given how dynamic and important the position is nowadays, but it is food for thought. Meanwhile, 44% of edge rushers signed a second contract.
To that point, the Browns, who haven’t had a first-round pick since 2021, have had needs at WR and haven’t taken one higher than 74th (Cedric Tillman, 2023) since 2016. Speaking of busts, they took Baylor’s Corey Coleman in the first round back during that draft year. The 15th overall pick played 19 games for the Browns and had 718 yards with five touchdown catches.
More recently, the Browns have acquired wide receivers via trade, getting Jerry Jeudy for a fifth and a sixth-round pick and Amari Cooper for a fifth-round selection and a swap of sixth-round picks. They did move a second-round pick for Elijah Moore, but got a third-rounder 32 spots lower in the deal as well.
When you consider that evidence, I’m not sure how many wide receivers this front office would be that excited about in terms of drafting with the Number 2 Pick. Now, maybe they’d consider Hunter that valuable of a corner and envision him as a part-time two-way player, as he’s a unicorn in terms of first-round “receivers”. Nevertheless, I think there could be a sentiment of “we can find wide receivers, but we can’t find pass rushers like Carter”.
Lastly, from everything I’ve read, heard, and seen, the Browns won’t take a QB at No. 2. I see them as real players for somebody like Tyler Shough or Jaxson Dart (if he’s somehow there) at 33. Will Howard might even be a later-round selection. Even though we all know the Browns need a quarterback, and the sportsbooks know the Browns need a quarterback, there is a reason why they are such long shots to be picked at No. 2.
2025 NFL Draft Number 2 Pick
Carter had a stress fracture in his foot that kept him out of the combine and Penn State’s pro day. I’m guessing the Browns have been gathering as much intel as possible since. While Hunter may be a “can’t miss” athlete, Carter might be a “can’t miss” matchup nightmare with Garrett on the other side.
Ultimately, Hunter is likely the pick, but there may be enough doubt for Carter to be worth a small play.
Pick: Abdul Carter (+225)
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