“If you don’t draft me, that’s your fault … and I’ll remember that.” Cam Ward isn’t shy. The Miami Hurricanes quarterback is walking into the 2025 NFL Draft with full confidence. He believes he’s one of the best in this class and that he’s got what it takes to light up the league. And honestly, he’s got a point.

Cam Ward is the kind of modern QB who can make plays inside the pocket and take off when things break down. That dual-threat edge! It’s why some scouts see him going at number one on Day 1. But here’s the big question: can all that talent put him in the same conversation as 3x Super Bowl champ, Patrick Mahomes?

Well, if you ask ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, he will say yes! It happened on Wednesday’s episode of NFL Live, where the analyst made a bold comparison, saying, “He [Cam Ward] reminds me of [Patrick] Mahomes.” This statement turned heads for sure, as a player who hasn’t even started in the league is compared to someone who has three Super Bowls in hand. But how are they both similar?

According to Riddick, it’s because of their playing style. During the show, he expressed, “Look, I said my comp for Cam Ward because of the way he plays, he reminds me of Patrick [Mahomes] with how he can be unconventional, throw the football from all kinds of weird angles. Then just put a bunch of horsepower on it when he needs to.”

The former NFL safety thinks, “If someone was telling me that’s maybe what you’re getting… I’d be pretty damn excited. Now, I’m not saying I’m exactly right. But that’s my bet—that Cam Ward will have that kind of impact and play that kind of style of football in Tennessee if they happen to select him at No. 1.” The 56-year-old broadcaster is pretty sure that Ward will be selected at no. 1 and that he will turn out as great as Mahomes, due to his throwing abilities. Now that’s an interesting point there!

As a playmaker, there’s no doubt Cam Ward is a creative force. The guy led Miami with 39 passing touchdowns and tied for the most throws of 20+ yards at 74. That’s not just solid, that’s impressive. He also finished second in the nation in passing yards last season with 4,313. So yeah, when Louis Riddick praised him, it wasn’t just hype; the numbers back it up. But the Mahomes comparison? That’s where things get a little weird.

Let’s be real. The NFL is a different beast. You don’t just need talent, you need the right team, the right system, and a whole lot of grit to win. That’s why a lot of fans weren’t exactly thrilled with the comparison.

Patrick Mahomes is better than Cam Ward as per NFL fans!

Louis Riddick caught some heat online, and honestly, as per many, it makes sense. Patrick Mahomes isn’t just good; he’s arguably legendary. He’s got eight years of experience, a stacked Chiefs roster, and a résumé that screams future Hall of Famer. Hence, this comparison of him to a newcomer, Cam Ward, sounds off to most social media users. For instance, one said, “Wooooah there buddy nothing compares to Mahomes,” or someone commented, “(laughing emojis) there’s no comp for mahomes plz stop this madness.”

No doubt, at present, Patrick Mahomes is the only active quarterback who has three Super Bowls in hand. So, think about it—32,352 passing yards in eight seasons. That’s more than what Tom Brady had at that point in his career. Mahomes also holds an 89-23 record, with 17 playoff wins, second only to Brady’s 35. So yeah, Mahomes is the standard. Every young QB wants to be like him. Cam Ward? He’s just getting started.

Hence, many slammed Riddick’s comparison, by saying, “Louis stop it, no wonder you don’t GM no more,” or “You don’t have to wonder why Riddick doesn’t get hired to help run a football team anymore.” In fact, some fans also recalled his previous comparison from last year, where he thought Caleb Williams was like Mahomes. They wrote, “So now everybody (is) Patrick Mahomes just said this s— about Caleb last yr man,” or “Calm Down y’all said same thing about Caleb Williams.”

Although Williams needs some time to learn, his present status doesn’t make him a rock-solid QB for the team. Whereas, Mahomes shined through his first game in Week 17 in 2017, leading his team to win. And that legacy is still on! But for Cam Ward, let’s give him time to write his own story!