The 2024 season is heavily underway and so are the 2025 NFL mock conversations. Players with mammoth records and sky-high stat have been leading the 2025 NFL race, and you don’t have to wait until the off-season to know who’s on whose radar. The mock prospects are ready to intrigue your fan psyche. The two bigwigs that made the most talking in the NFL confab are Miami’s Cameron Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. Ward, who stands at 6-2, 223 pounds, is arguably considered the most experienced quarterback eligible for the 2025 NFL draft, with 2156 passing attempts under his belt. Would you be at a loss if anyone says that Cam isn’t worth the hype, at least as a sharp QB prospect? Well, it’s time to brace yourselves up! ESPN mogul Pete Thamel is here to talk beyond your belief.

When it comes to the highly touted NFL future of the fan-favorite Miami QB, Pete Thamel believes, ”There’s some internal drive to that guy, that’s very real and uh and really really impressive um but I would just, you know, is he a refined quarterback prospect right now? I would say no.”

Before taking the nuanced criticism straight to your fans’ sentiment, you better know that the ESPN analyst doesn’t undermine the rare USP, the incredible talent, the charm, and the magical demeanor Ward possesses to turn things around for his team. ‘‘Is he, you know, leading Miami out of like two decades of doldrums yes, and yes like he’s been an alpha he’s been a leader all those you know those intangible questions seem to be answered but he’s just like so Loosey Goosey, and the turnover issues are going all the way back and yeah but like that’s what makes this whole thing, what makes him brilliant, also makes him really scary,” Thamel added to the Todd McShay show’s content.

No matter how the analysts’ contradiction pans out, if you’re an avid college football follower, you would know how Cam Ward became synonymous with the CFB community within a very short span. The 22-year-old was in the driving seat in the Hurricanes’ latest 53-31 victory over Duke, taking the record to an improved 9-0. The phenom posted 25-of-41 for 400 yards with five touchdowns and one interception.

It’s not just a fluke, nonetheless. Ward has always been to this peerless throughout the season. He picked up a pedestrian stat against Florida State as well. With this, he rightfully flew to the top of fans’ attention, as well as to the thick of Heisman trophy odds. Whether Ward is NFL-ready or not seems to perpetual debate, but we can at least pipe through his best-fit destination.

NFL franchises that could take Cam Ward on board

Ward is far from being flawless. Like any other good package, the Texas native comes with his own fair share of drawbacks. But a football intellectual would never argue about his elite PFF passing grade this season and how he chose to put it through the pressure — some crucial elements that smell like the NFL were ready! Along with the line, the latest prediction from Pro Football Focus can see Ward being hand-picked as No. 1 overall by the Carolina Panthers, replacing former No. 1 pick Bryce Young.

As the popular analysis says, he can revive the Panther’s offense, which seems to be a long-standing goal for Panthers coach Dave Canales. Ward’s high adaptability and adequate experience through the course of Texas, Washington, and Florida made him an ideal choice for the struggling Panthers.

However, ESPN’s Jordan Reid still keeps the New York Giants as the more suitable fit for Ward as the Giants are desperate in their hunt for a franchise quarterback. Ward’s 90.4 PFF passing grade and the most big-time throws record in college football might be exactly what they look for.

What’s your take on the projected doubt on Cam Ward’s NFL future? Let us know in the comments.