Floored🤯 or Bored🙄: Is Cam Ward a Solid Top 2 NFL Draft Pick?🤔
By Ha Kung Wong
Cam Ward is one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft class. The Miami Hurricanes star, who transferred from Washington State, showcased an impressive blend of arm talent, mobility, and accuracy in his stellar 2024 season. Completing over 67% of his passes for 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns, and just 7 interceptions, Ward was the engine of Miami’s high-powered offense. His efforts earned him the Davey O’Brien Award and ACC Player of the Year honors. However, despite his enticing potential, as we also discussed on the podcast, there are reasons to believe Ward could be a risky selection at the top of the NFL Draft.
Elite Arm Talent, But Risky Decision-Making
There’s no doubt that Ward can make every throw required at the next level. He effortlessly accesses all areas of the field, whether short, intermediate, or deep. The ball explodes off his hand, and he has an uncanny ability to manipulate velocity and touch based on the required trajectory. He can thread the needle past defenders or float the ball over coverage with precision. His flexibility in arm angles also allows him to release passes in unconventional ways, a valuable skill against pressure.
| Season | Team | Class | G | Cmp | Att | Cmp% | Yds | TD | Int | Y/A | Y/G | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022* | Washington State | SO | 13 | 320 | 497 | 64.4 | 3232 | 23 | 9 | 6.5 | 248.6 | 130.7 |
| 2023 | Washington State | JR | 12 | 323 | 485 | 66.6 | 3736 | 25 | 7 | 7.7 | 311.3 | 145.4 |
| 2024* | Miami (FL) | SR | 13 | 305 | 454 | 67.2 | 4313 | 39 | 7 | 9.5 | 331.8 | 172.2 |
| Care | Care | Care | 38 | 948 | 1436 | 66.0 | 11281 | 87 | 23 | 7.9 | 296.9 | 148.8 |
| Miam | Miam | Miam | 13 | 305 | 454 | 67.2 | 4313 | 39 | 7 | 9.5 | 331.8 | 172.2 |
| Wash | Wash | Wash | 25 | 643 | 982 | 65.5 | 6968 | 48 | 16 | 7.1 | 278.7 | 138.0 |
However, Ward’s aggressive playstyle raises concerns. He is a self-proclaimed gunslinger, and while that mentality has led to jaw-dropping throws, it has also put the ball in harm’s way far too often. His confidence in his arm sometimes leads him to force passes into tight windows that simply aren’t there. If he doesn’t rein in his risk-taking, NFL defenses will capitalize on his mistakes, leading to unnecessary turnovers.
Pre-Snap Processing and Decision-Making Concerns
One of Ward’s biggest areas for improvement is his tendency to predetermine reads before the snap. While he does a solid job diagnosing defenses pre-snap, he sometimes locks onto his first read, assuming the coverage will hold rather than adjusting post-snap. This issue was evident in Miami’s matchup against Virginia Tech, where defenders were able to bait him into dangerous throws and bad decisions, resulting in 2 interceptions (and a forced fumble that ultimately led to the first score of the game for Virginia Tech).
It’s possible that improving his eye manipulation to move defenders and create cleaner passing lanes may help, but he certainly needs to get better at progressing past his initial read. If he can develop this, he’ll reduce the number of turnover-worthy plays and improve his overall efficiency.
Inconsistent Mechanics Under Pressure
Ward’s deep ball accuracy is lethal when he’s mechanically sound, particularly on deep crossers and seam routes where he layers throws beautifully. However, when the pocket gets muddy, he has a bad habit of relying too much on his arm talent rather than resetting his feet. This leads to throws off his back foot, affecting both velocity and accuracy. Passes beyond 45 yards can sail or lose their intended placement when his base isn’t secure.
Improving pocket discipline and mechanics under pressure will be crucial for his development. If he can maintain proper footwork and avoid unnecessary off-platform throws, his deep accuracy will become more consistent.
Underutilized Mobility
Despite possessing plus-level mobility, Ward does not utilize his rushing ability as much as he could. He has the athleticism to escape pressure and extend plays outside the pocket, yet he often chooses to stay in the pocket longer than necessary. In terms of rush attempts, Ward is coming off his best yards per attempt average (3.4) of his college career, so the potential is certainly there.
| Rush | Rush | Rush | Rush | Rush | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | Class | G | Att | Yds | Y/A | TD | Y/G |
| 2022* | Washington State | SO | 13 | 107 | 58 | 0.5 | 5 | 4.5 |
| 2023 | Washington State | JR | 12 | 120 | 144 | 1.2 | 8 | 12.0 |
| 2024* | Miami (FL) | SR | 13 | 60 | 204 | 3.4 | 4 | 15.7 |
| Care | Care | Care | 38 | 287 | 406 | 1.4 | 17 | 10.7 |
| Miam | Miam | Miam | 13 | 60 | 204 | 3.4 | 4 | 15.7 |
| Wash | Wash | Wash | 25 | 227 | 202 | 0.9 | 13 | 8.1 |
In an era where dual-threat quarterbacks are highly valued, tapping into his rushing potential could elevate his game further. If Ward can embrace his mobility more effectively, or at least land in a spot where he rushing ability can be coached, he could become an even greater threat to NFL defenses.
The Pop-Tarts Bowl Controversy
One of the most debated aspects of Ward’s draft profile is his abrupt halftime exit from the Pop-Tarts Bowl. While his decision may not directly impact his draft stock, NFL teams will undoubtedly scrutinize his commitment and leadership. It was later explained that the Canes coaching staff knew that Ward wouldn’t play the entire game, and that he apparently started to ensure that others would start as well. Remember, this Bowl game really didn’t mean anything other than pride for the Canes, so it’s really more of question whether Ward should have played at all, knowing that he was already going to enter the draft. But it’s got to sting when you’re in a close game and you end up losing late because your best player is riding the pine of his own decision. In a league where intangible qualities often separate good quarterbacks from great ones, this incident will certainly be asked about in his draft interviews.
Conclusion: Boom or Bust Potential?
This year’s quarterback draft class isn’t as impressive as last year, but Cam Ward is certainly at the top of it, with a rare combination of arm strength, accuracy, and athleticism. His lethal intermediate accuracy and ability to read defenses before the snap make him an attractive prospect. However, his aggressive decision-making, inconsistent deep ball mechanics, and underutilized mobility present concerns.
If Ward can refine his pre-snap processing, improve his mechanics under pressure, and reduce turnover-worthy plays, he has franchise quarterback potential. However, if he continues to lean on raw talent without refining these aspects, he could struggle at the next level. Interestingly, draft pundits have noted his NFL comps may be Russell Wilson or Jameis Winston, very different players with very different careers. Currently, consensus NFL Draft Big Boards have him at 14.75 overall, with the Bleacher Report being highest on him at 8 and ESPN being the lowest on him at 18. But we know that the NFL is a quarterback league. NFL teams will have to weigh his upside against the risks before deciding between him and the other top quarterback in the class, Shedeur Sanders.