With the CFB season nearing its end, the elite players are beginning to divide into 2 distinct factions. Those preparing for December and those preparing for April. In the case of Cam Ward, he just about manages to fall in both. The Miami Hurricanes (10-1) are still in the hunt for the playoffs after a blowout win against Wake Forest. Once again, Cam Ward was in the thick of it. As he led his team towards his and their immediate aspirations, his draft prospects were being weighed up in the stands.

Cam Ward threw for 280 yards and 2 TDs and rushed for another as his team put up a 42-14 performance in Hard Rock on Saturday. Such has been his traversal through this season that those who saw the game would regard this Ward performance as rather pedestrian. Keeping a close eye on the proceedings were scouts from 2 NFL franchises. The NY Giants and, more curiously, the New England Patriots.

According to FOX Sports NFL Insider Jordan Schultz, “The Giants, along with several other NFL teams, attended the Miami vs Wake Forest game today. Hurricanes QB Cam Ward, a projected top-five pick, was a key focus”, he announced via Instagram. The Giants’ issues under center are well documented. Daniel Jones was initially QB1 and bestowed a franchise QB-esque contract in the not-too-distant past. He is now firmly demoted to the bench as the Giants become the latest entrant on the quarterback carousel. 

One franchise that drafted a QB in the top 3 just last year is also potentially in the fray. Patriots insider Mike Reiss seemingly confirmed that the $7.4 Billion Pats also sent personnel over to Miami, as he wrote on X, “Scouting nugget: Patriots had 3 members of the personnel staff (Eliot Wolf, Alonzo Highsmith, Landon Simpson) on hand for Miami-Wake Forest yesterday. Highsmith was GM of football ops at Miami, while Simpson had served as UMiami coordinator of player personnel.” They were indeed one of the “several other NFL teams,” as alluded to by Schultz.

Moving on. Drake Maye has been given the starting role in New England in recent weeks after an underwhelming start to the season. He has shown moments of greatness and moments of growth. As with most rookie QBs, being thrown in the mixer from the jump can often lead to lofty highs and modest lows. As the Patriots look for a successor to Tom Brady’s throne, one would expect Maye to get a long leash. Scouts at the game were perhaps there not to judge an adversary but some weapons to aid him.

Cam Ward’s teammates present as enticing prospects

The Canes are one of the most potent offenses in CFB this season. This is largely due to a force multiplier as quarterback. Albeit the ancillary pieces in the Miami offense hold their own too. WR Xavier Restrepo has been a revelation. He finds himself firmly in the discussion for the Fred Biletnikoff Award– given to the best receiver in the sport.

Elsewhere, RB Damien Martinez is also a potential pro. His 8 TDs and 5.5 yards per carry have complimented Cam Ward’s escapades. The offense is a weakness for the Patriots, as well as the Giants, and Miami has a plethora of talent to offer.

Well, the draft is still a farsighted goal for these athletes. Mario Cristobal will want to keep his players laser-focused on the task at hand and fall on the right side of the fence between them and their goals. With the ACC championship game and playoffs still a real possibility, Miami takes on Syracuse next. The murmurs from the big league are undying. Miami will need all hands on deck while they still have them at their disposal.