Cam Ward 2025 NFL Draft QB1

Miami quarterback (QB) Cam Ward has what it takes to turn an NFL franchise around. He succeeds in new environments and he has elite traits in spades ⎯he’s aggressive, smart, athletic, creative, competitive, and uber-confident.

It’s the aggression and confidence that sets him apart.

While I’ve maintained a first-round grade on Ward from the time I laid eyes on his 2022 tape ⎯and again in 2023, transferring to Miami proved to be the right move on the draft chessboard.

In two seasons with the Cougars, Ward reminded me of Eagles’ QB Jalen Hurts. This season at Miami ⎯he reminded me of Chiefs’ QB Patrick Mahomes.

There I said it.

Ward got out-of-pocket at Miami displaying a dominant unstructured brand of football. He was good at Washington State, but he looked great at Miami.

Kudos to Ward for changing his mind about declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft on January 1, 2024, and instead transferring to Miami 12 days later. The draft is as much about perception and organizational commitment to a prospect as it is about talent. It was a risky and aggressive decision by Ward that required courage. Poetically, these same traits were all over his game film this season, and my biggest previous criticism of Ward, which was ‘doubt,’ disappeared.

Elite pocket navigation

Ward was fun to watch in 2024 ⎯dancing around and dodging the often fruitless efforts of pass rushers. Ward proved dominant inside ⎯and outside of the pocket while demonstrating top-shelf escapability.

Nothing phased him.

Ward kept his eyes downfield facing an often muddied pocket before delivering with the focus of a sniper.

Ward drives the offense downfield ⎯aggressively

Ward has ice in his veins ⎯regardless of the score ⎯and he keeps his offense leaning forward.

Granted, he throws a bunch of pre-determined hot quick strikes, which contributed to Miami finishing as the regular season’s No. 1 offensive unit in third-down efficiency (Team Rankings). However, the film reveals Ward prefers throwing it down the secondary’s throat at the intermediate to deep route levels (11+ yards).

Concerns

Ward has unpredictable footwork when throwing, which sometimes produces errant and even occasional dangerous passes. He compensates to a degree with innate throwing instincts, and a high-level ability to read coverage, but sometimes he gets careless.

He also has average throwing anticipation (PFF: 2024 2.93 second time to throw). Ward covers this mostly with high-velocity fastballs, but still, it’s a concern. It’s a prerequisite for NFL quarterbacks to throw before the receiver gets to a spot.

More positives

Ward is a student of the game.

He has high-level communication skills.

#1 Cam Ward 6-foot-2, 223 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2025 NFL Draft Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 70.2% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of January 1, 2025 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Cameron Ward Reminds Former NFL Scout of Jalen Hurts (2022: 5 games evaluated)

Washington State QB Cameron Ward Looks the Part (2022: 3 games evaluated)

Cameron Ward Higher NFL Ceiling Than Caleb Williams (2023: 8 games evaluated)

2024 game film evaluated: Florida, Florida A&M, Ball State, USF, Virginia Tech, CAL, Louisville, FSU, Duke, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Syracuse, and Iowa State (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

No. 1 Rated QBR

NCAA Division I Record 156 touchdown passes

2024 stats: 305/454 (67.2%), 4,313 yards, 39 TD, 7 INT, 22 sacks

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Athletic mature playmaker with a big-league arm and a commanding presence. Slight lulls in production and energy levels. Proactive short game. Reactive intermediate to deep throws based on reads. Makes it look easy. Quick reflexes. Good ball-handling skills. Tends to go through progressions. Lures pass rushers in. Cool as ice with pressure in his face. Strong enough to overcome pass rushers. Moves and resets the pocket with ease. Sees the field well. Patient. Spreads the ball around. Accurate rolling left or right. Throws from different arm slots. Destroys zone coverage. Shows some touch. Works well with the tight end. Excels at slant and seam routes. Low-trajectory arch +20 yards (24/64: 37.5%). Ball security (13 games: 25 PBU/1.92). Absorbs minimal contact running. Low injury risk.

Final words

Ward is the best quarterback in this draft class, and it’s not close.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.