As the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, the debate around top quarterback prospects continues to heat up — and Super Bowl champion James Jones is weighing in.
James Jones Says Cam Ward Has a Slight Edge Over Shedeur Sanders
On FS1’s The Facility, Jones broke down two of the most talked-about QB prospects in the class: Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. When asked who he thinks is more pro-ready right now, Jones leaned slightly in Ward’s direction.
.@89JonesNTAF says Cam Ward is a "little" ahead of Shedeur Sanders:
"I love Cam's mind. He wins before the play starts and makes his WRs better." pic.twitter.com/V6pEsuXFHc
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1)
“When I watch Ward, he’s a little ahead of Shedeur with the mind,” Jones said. “He anticipates where he’s going to go with the ball, he throws his wide receivers open [and] he makes a lot of his wide receivers better. That’s what I love about him.”
Jones emphasized that it wasn’t a knock on Sanders, who is also widely expected to be a top pick in April. Jones insisted that the arm talent was very comparable between the two. Still, he pointed to Ward’s collegiate experience — including more time in pro-style looks and a more substantial sample size in terms of processing speed — as the differentiator at this stage.
Former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel disagreed with that notion. “Just pure arm strength, it’s [Ward],” Daniel said. “It’s not close arm strength-wise [and] arm talent-wise too. I’m telling you, dude. And look, this is not to say Shedeur’s not a great quarterback; I think he’s going to be a good quarterback. But just purely arm talent-wise to me, [Ward] stands above them, and it’s not even close.”
Ward and Sanders delivered exceptional performances during the 2024 season, solidifying their positions as top quarterback prospects for the upcoming NFL Draft.
Ward set Miami’s single-season records with 4,313 passing yards and 39 touchdowns, achieving a 67.2% completion rate and a QBR of 88.7, ranking second nationally.
Sanders, meanwhile, completed 74.0% of his passes for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns, setting multiple single-season records for Colorado and earning a QBR of 75.5, placing him 20th nationally.
As the draft nears, Ward appears to have gained a significant edge in the eyes of analysts and oddsmakers. Recent betting odds reflect this sentiment, with Ward listed as the overwhelming favorite to be selected first overall. According to Sportsbook Review, Ward’s odds have shortened to -240, indicating a strong consensus around his top-pick potential.
In contrast, Sanders’ odds have lengthened, with some sportsbooks listing him as high as +1400 to be the first overall selection.
While both quarterbacks have made compelling cases with their 2024 seasons, Jones and Daniel’s assessments align with how the pre-draft process unfolds.
Both of their respective analyses—arm strength, arm talent, throwing receivers open, and anticipating throwing windows—are just a few examples of what is elevating Ward in the eyes of evaluators and what may ultimately separate him from Sanders come draft night.
