Cam Ward’s journey from FCS prospect to Heisman finalist culminated in his being selected first overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2025 NFL Draft—a historic achievement for the Miami Hurricanes quarterback.
However, the aftermath has been clouded by debate, centered not on Ward’s ability or Tennessee’s decision, but on the narrative pushed by ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. Despite Ward going No. 1, Kiper ranked him behind Shedeur Sanders, who fell to the fifth round.
Miami’s Mario Cristobal Calls Out Mel Kiper Jr. For Ignoring Cam Ward During Draft Process
After Cam Ward was selected No. 1 overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2025 NFL Draft, his meteoric rise from an FCS recruit to a Miami standout and Heisman finalist became one of the most remarkable stories of the draft cycle.
But in the aftermath of that historic selection, Miami head coach Mario Cristobal has voiced frustration, not over the pick itself, but the narrative that surrounded it. Cristobal revealed that while he spoke “to a million people” during Ward’s pre-draft process, one name was notably absent.
Miami’s Mario Cristobal said he spoke “to a million people” about No. 1 NFL draft pick Cam Ward – except one. “I can’t recall many NFL teams or TV people I didn’t speak to.” However, Cristobal & OC Shannon Dawson never spoke w/ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., who was criticized for…
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) May 14, 2025
“I can’t recall many NFL teams or TV people I didn’t speak to,” Cristobal told Action Network’s Brett McMurphy. “Never heard from him,” he added, referring to ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. “I don’t think I’ve ever talked to him.”
Cristobal, along with offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, confirmed that Kiper never reached out for insight on Ward, despite the quarterback’s record-setting 2024 season, where he threw for over 4,300 yards and 39 touchdowns while leading the Hurricanes to 10 wins.
Instead, much of the pre-draft media focus centered on Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Kiper ranked Sanders ahead of Ward on his final big board and consistently projected him as a first-round selection.
Even after Sanders slipped to the fifth round, Kiper doubled down, calling the slide “disgusting” and awarding the Cleveland Browns an “A+” grade primarily for taking Sanders at No. 144 overall.
Critics, including Cristobal, have since questioned whether Kiper’s heavy promotion of Sanders came at the expense of a more balanced evaluation.
“The only reason I would be disappointed was if Cam was,” Cristobal said. “But knowing Cam, he just wanted to hear the name and exactly where he was going and get to work.”
Cristobal didn’t express personal animosity toward Kiper but made it clear the analyst’s decision to ignore Ward’s camp during the process didn’t go unnoticed. While Sanders’ NFL trajectory remains to be seen, Ward has already begun his professional journey as the face of the Titans franchise.
In fact, legendary franchise QB Warren Moon un-retired his number for the new QB — something that other franchises have been stingy about this draft cycle.
Ultimately, Cristobal’s comments underscore a broader concern among college coaches about how pre-draft narratives are shaped—and who gets left out of the conversation.
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