At 6’3″ and 220 pounds, Cam Ward brings the perfect combination of size, arm strength, mobility, and creativity that NFL teams look for in a franchise quarterback.
His impressive senior season at Miami showcased these talents, as he threw for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns with just seven interceptions while completing 67.2% of his passes. He also added 204 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Leading up to the NFL Draft, CBS Draft analyst Mike Renner provided some insights that has given Ward a leg up in this year’s quarterback class.
Cam Ward’s Elite Tools Set Him Apart
Renner describes Ward as having “quite easily the best tools in this draft class.” With more than 40 college starts across different levels (including FCS, Pac-12, and ACC competition), Ward has proven himself against elite defenders while collecting awards like the Manning Award and Davey O’Brien Award.
His ability to perform under pressure and create plays when things break down makes him especially valuable in today’s NFL.
“After Cam Ward, everyone in this year’s draft would be closer to Spencer Rattler than they’d be to Bo Nix from last year’s draft, on my board.” ~ @mikerenner_
Full episode with Mike Renner: https://t.co/wY4fNCjlQj https://t.co/vAWAqQPHph pic.twitter.com/Yg1DkReVcn
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 15, 2025
The second big advantage for Ward is the weakness of this year’s quarterback class overall. Renner compares the next-best quarterback prospects to Spencer Rattler rather than top-tier talents like Bo Nix or J.J. McCarthy from last year’s draft, creating a huge gap between Ward and everyone else.
While quarterbacks like Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe have plenty of college experience, Renner believes they lack the high-end physical tools that NFL teams typically look for in early draft picks.
Sanders is praised for his polish, toughness, and leadership but doesn’t have elite arm strength. Milroe offers impressive athleticism but shows inconsistent decision-making and execution.
Because of these weaknesses in the quarterback class, some analysts project that after Ward, the next quarterback might not be selected until late in the first round or even in the second round – a stark contrast to last year when six quarterbacks were taken in the top 12 picks.
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The Tennessee Titans, who hold the first overall pick, are widely expected to select Ward as their quarterback of the future. If selected first overall, Ward would become just the third Miami Hurricane ever taken with the top pick, joining Vinny Testaverde (1987) and Russell Maryland (1991).
Ward’s journey from being a zero-star recruit at Incarnate Word to potentially becoming the first overall pick in the NFL Draft highlights his remarkable talent and determination, making him stand out even more in what Renner considers one of the weakest draft classes in recent memory.
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