With the CFB season wrapped up, the draft season is here, and seniors are ready to show off their skills and make it to the pro league. But the road to the NFL isn’t all smooth sailing. And what’s the fun without a little comparison? So, let’s shift the spotlight to our top draft picks, Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward. Just like Ward’s impressive Heisman contender run outshining Shedeur, he’s back at it, stealing the stage as the competition for the top pick intensifies.

Well, this is a never-ending debate about who’s better at what. But it looks like NFL draft analyst Mike Renner has some pretty interesting take on this ongoing notion. What’s better than judging a player based on his performance and abilities? And that’s exactly what Mike did, saying, “But with Ward, I thought when he found answers, it was more prototypical in the NFL way of finding answers. He’s either stepping up or handling pressure the correct way. Whereas Sanders, a lot of the time, his answer was to sprint out backwards outside the pocket, put more pressure on himself, and try to make plays from there. So I think Ward’s handling of pressure is a little more NFL-translatable, whereas Shedeur really needs to overhaul how he deals with the pocket when things break down.”

By now, every CFB fan knows two things about Shedeur Sanders: first, he’s a fantastic passer when given a clean pocket, and second, his supporting cast doesn’t protect him

consistently enough for the offense to succeed. Do you recall their game against Nebraska? The Cornhuskers sacked Sanders five times, pressuring him in a mere 2.5 seconds. That still hampered his ability to make plays and run the offense effectively, even so.

Analyst Mike Renner also concurs that Shedeur Sanders might have played better with a stronger offensive line saying, “Some of that might just be because it was such a deluge for him behind that Colorado offensive line—it was so much in his head that every play, it’s hard to separate. We’ve seen great quarterbacks at the NFL level get broken by offensive lines at times, so it’s not unreasonable to think that’s the case.” And if you don’t know Shedeur Sanders faced pressure on 37% of his drop backs last to last season. And this year, even with a major turnover on the offensive line—including transfers and the nation’s top offensive tackle recruit—Colorado still couldn’t protect their star quarterback.

Whereas when we talk about Cam Ward’s performance under pressure, it tells a different story altogether. Ward’s arm talent has been popping off the screen in back-to-back games, and his ability to stay calm in the pocket sets him apart. Plus, his pocket presence is elite, with sneaky mobility to match. While some might also call his style “too relaxed.” But that’s what sets them apart: Cam works better in pressure and Shedeur Sanders is best in processing speed and leadership. Now let’s spill some tea on their possible NFL teams.

Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward NFL draft

Well, the battle for the top quarterback spot in the 2025 NFL Draft has become a full-blown showdown between Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. Mel Kiper Jr. notes that while this class may not be overflowing with talent, both Ward and Sanders are shining like diamonds in the rough, making them strong contenders for the first round.

Now, here’s the interesting part. It’s pretty evident that Shedeur Sanders is undeniably one of the top prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft, but he’s not participating in the Shrine Bowl. Why? Because the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, and New York Giants, who hold the top three picks, have requested that he not take part. And Sanders even met with all three teams on Friday, just before practices began on Saturday. It seems like something significant is in the works.

Furthermore, there’s another twist to it. Miami QB Cam Ward remains the favorite for the Titans’ first pick at BetMGM, adding an extra layer of complexity to the situation. So, for now, the race for the top pick continues to heat up, with both quarterbacks attracting serious attention from the teams at the top of the draft.