The 2025 NFL draft is now in the books, and what a wild ride it was. As expected, Cam Ward was selected first overall by the Tennessee Titans, and the Nashville side will now hope that they have found a new face of the franchise ready to resolve their longstanding quarterback woes. The former University of Florida standout was supported by both Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter at the top of the board, both of whom were expected to be top-five picks, and ultimately, that came to pass.
One unexpected thing, however, was the plight of Shedeur Sanders. The son of two-time winner Deion Sanders was also projected to be a top-five pick, with a selection in the first round being the bare minimum for someone of his quality. Shockingly, however, he drastically fell… and fell… and fell some more. The Colorado Buffaloes sensation wasn’t selected until the fifth round when he was picked up by a Cleveland Browns side looking to address quarterback issues of their own, but not before the 23-year-old had headlines throughout the US.
🚨🏈 Shedeur Sanders has not been drafted through 4 rounds of the NFL Draft 🤯 pic.twitter.com/YQ3xi1x7NN
— Bodog (@BodogCA) April 26, 2025
The Seattle Seahawks received universal acclaim for their work in the draft, but where have their picks left them in the betting charts in the NFC West? Let’s take a look.
Los Angeles Rams
Last season, online sports betting sites slept on the Los Angeles Rams somewhat. This term, they won’t be making the same mistake. The latest NFL odds from websites offering sports betting online currently list the Cali outfit as a +155 to win the division for the second straight year.
Last year was somewhat of a roller coaster at SoFI, with the Rams starting with a paltry record of 1-4 before rallying. Injuries to key players like Cooper Kupp meant that they stumbled out of the blocks, but once he returned, Los Angeles looked to be returning to the kind of form that saw them reach two Super Bowls in three years in 2018 and 2021.
With a defense still anchored by superstar Aaron Donald, the Rams managed to become incredibly consistent. Between week seven and the end of the regular season, they picked up nine wins against just three losses, taking their overall record to 10-7. That was enough to secure the divisional crown and a spot in the postseason, and they would successfully eliminate the 14-3 Minnesota Vikings in the wildcard round before the eventual champion Philadelphia Eagles had too much for them to handle in the divisional round.
This offseason, the Rams took everyone by surprise when they allowed former Super Bowl MVP Kupp to leave as a free agent, He has since been replaced with a fellow superstar in the form of Davante Adams, while the second round pick of tight end Terrance Ferguson also looks to be an impressive move. Whether that is enough to secure them the NFC West crown once again remains to be seen.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers had a disastrous time last season. The bookies made them a favorite to reach the Super Bowl, but instead, they couldn’t even manage a record above .500 and finished rock bottom of the division. This season, those same oddsmakers haven’t given up on San Francisco, pricing them as the +160 second favorite behind the Rams.
The Niners roster remains stacked, with superstars such as Nick Bosa, George Kittle, and a fully fit Christian McCaffrey expected to lead them back to the postseason in 2025. They have, however, allowed Deebo Samuel to leave for next to no compensation to the Washington Commanders. In addition, question marks remain over quarterback Brock Purdy and whether he has the ability to take the fight to the likes of Stafford throughout the course of a grueling season.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals showed signs of life last season. After picking up just four wins in both the 2022 and 2023 campaigns, they managed to double that haul last term and ended the year with a record of 8-9. That marked the eighth time in the last nine seasons in which they had finished with a record of .500 or below, but there were signs that the tide could well be turning at State Farm Stadium.
First-round pick Marvin Harrison Jr. finally gave former Heisman-winning quarterback Kyler Murray a primary target that he can rely on. Tight end Trey McBride also continued to mature into a superstar, picking up 1,146 receiving yards in a breakout year.
In the most recent draft, they brought in highly-rated cornerback Will Johnson and strengthened their defensive line with the addition of Walter Nolen III. Both of those will be crucial if Arizona is to defy its odds of +450 to win the division.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks surprised many last season, including fans who traveled to see their games live. After an impressive start, their season tapered off, and they ultimately missed the playoffs by a whisker. Geno Smith had moments of brilliance, but inconsistency in crunch situations proved to be their Achilles’ heel.
Now, the aforementioned quarterback Smith has left, and he has been replaced in the draft with former Alabama Crimson Tide sensation Jalen Milroe. It remains to be seen whether he will be given the chance to make the immediate step up or whether he will spend a season developing behind Sam Darnold, who himself has just arrived in Washington following a standout year with the Vikings last term.
The Seahawks have also added wide receiver Kupp to their attacking arsenal, and if he can remain fit all season, there’s no reason to think that his new side cannot defy their +600 odds. Versatile guard Grey Zabel, athletic safety Nick Emmanwori, and tight end Elijah Arroyo all arrived in the recent draft, and each of them could have huge parts to play next season.
