Cameron Ward has a Rare Blend of Special Abilities

First Round Mock’s Rajvir Bal has put a big grade on the Hurricanes’ new transfer quarterback (QB), Cameron Ward.

This past year we heard the same thing when it came to the 2024 NFL Draft QB class, You better get one this year because it’s slim pickings next year. The media seems to think no one in this draft class warrants a high-level draft grade.

Do I allow the media to influence my reports?

No.

As I continue my search for a game-changing QB in this year’s class, let’s check out Ward, the Miami Hurricanes’ new QB.

Background

Ward humbly began as a recruit with no-stars next to his name out of Texas (247Sports).

He first enrolled at Incarnate Word ⎯where he threw for 6,908 yards, 71 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions (2020-2021).

From there, he transferred to Washington State, and over the next couple of seasons (2022-2023), he threw for an additional 6,966 yards, 48 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions.

Before transferring to Miami, Ward declared for the 2024 NFL Draft but later rescinded.

Ward is in the 33rd (height) and 54th (weight) percentiles respectively (per NFLDraftBuzz.com). Ward is cousins with Pro Bowl safety Quandre Diggs and longtime NFL Cornerback Quentin Jammer.

#1 Cameron Ward 6-foot-2, 223 pounds 
Rajvir Bal’s Summer 2025 NFL Draft Grade: First-Round (I would select him)
Projected by 21.7% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of July 14, 2024 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2023 game film reviewed: Oregon State, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Oregon (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

The Good

Magician. That’s how I can describe Ward. He manages to be a superhero without playing hero ball, which helps keep him out of trouble. When I watched his game film, he looked like someone attempted to build a Patrick Mahomes-Lamar Jackson combination in a lab. Of course, Mahomes is the Chiefs’ QB and Jackson is the Ravens’ QB. This is quite high praise that I don’t take lightly. To warrant this comparison, Ward has to be an exceptional runner, and he is. This helps him extend plays, and because of that ability, he can turn nothing into something. Ward has every NFL QB quality I love. Good deep ball, quick decision-making, and most importantly, NFL-level mechanics. His mechanics fly off the film. Watching him is like watching poetry in motion, that’s how pure he is. Ward can hit any receiver on any part of the field. Ward has some of the most valuable traits an NFL QB can have.

The Bad

These articles always include positives and negatives, so even though I could rave about Ward some more, we have to focus on the negatives. Ward has an issue “locking on” to one receiver. Occasionally, he is erratic in the pocket and will miss fairly easy throws. Often, this stems from his tendency to hold onto the ball a bit longer than he should. He will have to improve on this in the coming year. It’s worth noting that at Washington State, the offense was centered around the screen pass.

Final thoughts for now

Ward exhibits all of the traits that lead me to believe he will be a high-caliber-level player in the NFL. He has tremendous upside, and that’s why I’m crowning him as my QB1 heading into the season.

At Miami, I expect Ward to thrive, and I believe he will be the first quarterback selected in Green Bay at the 2025 NFL Draft.

Rajvir Bal is a high school student from the Virginia area. He grew up a rabid Washington Redskins fan, attending more than 30 games, and has enjoyed the team’s high points and low points throughout his life. He plays varsity football and basketball. Rajvir has taken an interest in the NFL Draft since middle school when his team picked Montez Sweat and Dwayne Haskins in the first round. His favorite NFL player ever flips between Rob Gronkowski and Brett Favre, and his favorite athlete is LeBron James. He has been writing his own scouting reports since 2020, and is excited for the opportunities FirstRoundMock provides.