NFL Draft: Cam Ward’s Hidden Skill Turns Heads as Shedeur Sanders Loses Big Exclusive Tag

The 2025 NFL Draft quarterback class may not have a generational talent, but it’s filled with intriguing prospects who could develop into ‘franchise quarterbacks’ under the right circumstances. Two of the top QBs leading the conversation are Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami‘s Cam Ward. The Miami signal-caller has quietly built a resume that stacks up against anyone in this class, and with the right landing spot, he might just be the most pro-ready passer available. One might have an edge per this Penn State alum.

Cam Ward isn’t just another name in the 2025 NFL Draft conversation—he’s the quarterback scouts can’t stop talking about. He’s got the size at 6’2″, the production with 4,313 passing yards last season, and the mobility that today’s NFL demands. But what really sets him apart? The way he throws the football. Some quarterbacks can make all the throws, but few can make them look as effortless as Ward does. The ball doesn’t just leave his hand—it snaps out like a firework, and Adam Breneman has been keenly observing Cam Ward’s skillset.

The former PSU tight end turned Yahoo! Sports analyst has been around the game long enough to know what separates a good college passer from one who can run an NFL offense. And in his eyes, Ward checks every box. “I love Cam Ward, I think Cam Ward is the best quarterback in the Draft,” Breneman said. “His arm talent, that he has, I mean the way he throws the football.” That alone would be high praise, but it’s more than just raw ability that’s sold Breneman.

He pointed to the Washington State transfer’s ability to handle adversity, something that doesn’t always show up on a stat sheet but often determines whether a quarterback thrives or folds at the next level. “I also think Cam shows the ability to withstand a little bit of ups and downs in his career. I mean, it hasn’t always been easy for Cam Ward in his career. It’s been, you know, things didn’t go well at times at Miami.”

That kind of resilience is exactly what NFL teams look for, and Breneman doubled down on why that trait matters. “I like guys that have been through a little bit, that have showed some grit and through some adversity.” Quarterback is the hardest job in football—maybe in all of sports. The great ones aren’t just physically gifted, they’re battle-tested. Ward’s career has had its bumps, but that’s part of what makes him such an intriguing prospect. And then there’s the way he plays. “In today’s NFL, you better be a mobile quarterback who can create and make plays off schedule,” Breneman emphasized. “That’s what Cam does as well like anyone, and he has such a live arm.” That’s the magic combination in today’s game.

The pocket passers who can’t move? They’re going extinct. And the athletic quarterbacks who can’t process defenses? They don’t last long, either. Ward offers both—an elite athlete with the IQ to break down defenses and make throws from the pocket.

What makes Ward’s rise even more fascinating is what it means for Shedeur Sanders. For months, Sanders was widely viewed as the franchise quarterback in this class, the one prospect who looked like a surefire Day 1 starter. But Breneman’s evaluation changes the equation. “The ball snaps out of his arm,” he said of Ward. “I think what he showed is he can be that pro-style passer in pocket who can go through his progressions and has the football IQ to do that.” That’s the kind of breakdown scouts usually reserved for Sanders, but now, Ward is stealing some of that shine.

And deservedly so. His final college season was a statement—4,313 passing yards, 39 touchdowns, and a command of Miami’s high-powered offense that left defenses scrambling. If production, skill set, and mental toughness define a franchise quarterback, then it’s hard to argue Ward doesn’t fit the bill.

At this point, the draft conversation is shifting.

Kurt Warner’s QB1? He’s rolling with Cam Ward

The 2025 NFL Draft class is shaping up to be a quarterback showdown, but one big question looms: Who’s the QB1? According to NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks, the top three passers in the class are Shedeur Sanders (Colorado), Cam Ward (Miami), and Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss). But when Hall of Famer Kurt Warner was asked to pick his guy, he didn’t hesitate.

“Cam has a little extra,” Warner said on The Joel Klatt Show. “He’s got a little uniqueness with his ability to throw the football. I think that’s what catapults him to the top of the class.” That’s high praise coming from a Super Bowl-winning QB known for his precision. Warner isn’t knocking Sanders or Dart—both have impressive résumés—but in his eyes, Ward’s arm talent and playmaking ability separate him from the pack. After all, Dart’s 4,279 passing yards, 69.3 completion percentage, and 180+ pass efficiency rate do make heads turn in awe!

Warner also pointed out that when comparing Ward to Sanders and Dart, he doesn’t see a major gap in decision-making or timing. And if all three are similar in those crucial areas, what gives Ward the edge? That’s the “little extra” Warner sees in his game.