Cam Ward issued a strong warning to NFL teams in February.
"If you don't draft me, that's your fault," Ward said at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. "You've got to remember you're the same team that's got to play me for the rest of my career, and I'll remember that."
The Miami Hurricanes quarterback's resume is an impressive one. A 2024 Heisman Trophy finalist, Ward holds the NCAA record for most career passing touchdowns (158). Ward also set school records with 4,313 passing yards and an FBS-leading 39 passing TDs last season en route to winning ACC Player of the Year and the Davey O'Brien Award (nation's top QB).
Ward has risen to the top no matter where -- or what level -- he's competed at. In each of his first two collegiate seasons at Incarnate Word, Ward led the FCS in passing TDs before transferring to Washington State in 2022. Ward proceeded to start all 25 games for the Cougars in his first taste of Power 5 football before taking his talents to South Beach last season. From FCS to FBS or from the Southland Conference to Pac-12 to ACC, Ward's career trajectory highlights his ability to adjust and flourish in increasingly competitive environments.
The biggest question surrounding Ward is whether he will be selected No. 1 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. It appears the Tennessee Titans, who hold the first selection, are intrigued by Ward's potential.
"His tape is excellent, he's a really good player," Titans head coach Brian Callahan said during an appearance at Ward's pro day on March 24. "Here, it just kind of confirms it."
Callahan was joined by quite the ensemble of Titans brass: president of football operations Chad Brinker, general manager Mike Borgonzi, assistant GM Dave Ziegler, vice president Reggie McKenzie, director AJ Highsmith, offensive coordinator Nick Holtz and QB coach Bo Hardegree. That group represented the heaviest presence at Ward's pro day, NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe reported.
If selected first overall, Ward would enter an elite club of Hurricanes. Only two Miami players have been No. 1 overall selections since the common draft era began in 1967: QB Vinny Testaverde selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1987 and defensive tackle Russell Maryland taken by the Dallas Cowboys in 1991.
Just four Miami QBs have been first-round selections in the common draft era. Two came via the traditional draft: Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly (1983) and Testaverde. The other two were picked in the NFL Supplemental Draft: Bernie Kosar (1985) and Steve Walsh (1989).
Ward's final collegiate career stat line (57 games, 57 starts):
- Passing: 65.1% completion, 18,184 yards, 158 TDs, 37 INTs
- Rushing: 473 yards and 20 TDs
What traits, specifically, does Ward bring to the next level? Below is a full scouting report (courtesy of NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein).
Strengths
- Recognizes pre-snap pressure and can protect himself.
- Displays recognition for attacking holes in the coverage.
- Sudden release helps him thrive with quick game and seam throws.
- Can whip throws into tight windows from 25 yards away.
- Release quickness and velocity limit defender's reaction time to the throw.
- Arm talent to make throws that others in this draft class cannot.
- Alters trajectory and touch for bucket throws.
- Mobility creates longer cover times and second-action opportunities.
- Able to read the front side and get to the back side with his progression.
- Bobs and weaves around the pocket and away from pressure points.
- Capable runner when the pocket breaks down but doesn't bolt unnecessarily.
Weaknesses
- Too willing to work out of structure and play hero ball.
- Struggled with Georgia Tech's disguised coverages.
- Needs eye discipline to prevent coverage overlaps against zone.
- Inconsistent tying his feet with his eyes when scanning.
- Gets excited and cuts it loose before the route develops.
- Drop-down, sidearm release creates erratic placement.
- Seam throws become a security blanket when he's uncomfortable.
- Unjustifiable interceptions from reckless cross-field throws.
- NFL QB-hunters will make him pay for reckless backward scrambles.
- Rears back and rips throws when touch and finesse is needed.
- Completed just 39% of his passes inside the red zone in 2024, per Pro Football Focus.
How Ward Projects in the NFL
Next Gen Stats gave Ward a prospect score of 86 (good/green tier), the highest grade among QBs in this year's draft class. That score breaks down into an 85 for production and 90 (elite/blue-chip tier) for athleticism. Among recent QB draftees, Ward graded out higher than C.J. Stroud, Drake Maye and Bo Nix overall using NGS metrics.
Here is how several NFL.com analysts forecast Ward's future.
Daniel Jeremiah
- Latest mock: No. 1 overall (Titans)
Mike Band
- Latest mock: No. 1 overall (Titans)
- Band added there is a 61% chance of QB being the position first selected by the Titans, per DraftKings odds.
Bucky Brooks
- Latest mock: No. 1 overall (Titans)
Charles Davis
- Latest mock: No. 1 overall (Titans)
Eric Edholm
- Latest mock: No. 1 overall (Titans)
Maurice Jones-Drew
- Latest mock: No. 1 overall (Titans)
Rhett Lewis
- Latest mock: No. 1 overall (Titans)
Chad Reuter
- Latest mock: No. 1 overall (Titans)
Lance Zierlein
- Latest mock: No. 1 overall (Titans)
A QB has been selected first overall in eight of the past 10 NFL drafts, including the past two. With a growing consensus that Ward will extend that streak to three, let's compare him to the last two QBs selected at that spot: Caleb Williams and Bryce Young. Watch NFL Pro’s All-22 footage of each comparison via NFL+ Premium below.
Ward:
- Measurables: 6'1 5/8" and 219 lbs
- FBS record: 22-16
- Pass YPG (FBS): 296.8
- Pass TD-INT ratio (FBS): 87-23
- Total TDs (FBS): 105
- Measurables: 6'1 1/8" and 214 lbs
- FBS record: 23-10
- Pass YPG (FBS): 296
- Pass TD-INT ratio (FBS): 91-14
- Total TDs (FBS): 116
- Measurables: 5'10 1/8" and 204 lbs
- FBS record: 23-4
- Pass YPG (FBS): 303.7
- Pass TD-INT ratio (FBS): 79-12
- Total TDs (FBS): 86
Check out these additional resources to dive deeper into Ward's game.
- Watch Daniel Jeremiah's film analysis of Ward on NFL+. Jeremiah ranked Ward as the No. 8 overall prospect and top QB in his latest Top 50 hierarchy of the 2025 NFL draft class.
- Watch Hall of Fame QB Kurt Warner's in-depth tape breakdown of a typical Ward performance on NFL+.
