Miami Hurricanes star Cam Ward is among the most hyped-up players in the 2025 NFL Draft class, and many analysts believe him to be the No. 1 overall pick. However, many mock drafts also show him dropping down.
One potential reason for Ward’s drop in draft stock is that many claim he “quit” Miami by not finishing his final game with them during the Pop-Tarts Bowl in December last year.
But if any team is looking to pass on him because of that reason, they may not like what Ward is saying.
Cam Ward’s Fiery Warning to Teams That Pass on Him During 2025 NFL Draft
Ward exited Miami’s Pop-Tarts Bowl against Iowa State after halftime, completing 12 of 19 passes for 190 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions in the final game of his collegiate career. However, the Hurricanes lost 41-42, and Ward was under fire from fans and analysts alike, suggesting he had quit the game.
Speaking in a recent interview with the Associated Press, Ward said if any team decided to pass on him because of that, he would remember that for the rest of his life.
“Okay, you’re either going to draft me or you’re not. If you don’t draft me, that’s your fault. You’ve got to remember you’re the same team that’s got to play me for the rest of my career, and I’ll remember that.”
Ward played well during that game, so there’s a strong case to be made that the Hurricanes would have won if he had continued playing. However, the QB says the decision to take him off after halftime was predetermined.
“I just think we all got what we needed out of it. They seen things that they think they need to work on … for this season coming up. And they also knew, you know, what I had on the line,” Ward said.
“We feel like we’re doing what’s best for the program and myself. I mean, it was a hard decision, especially when, you know, some guys on our team didn’t play who I thought should have played. It was also, you know, those guys thought about their future the same way I thought about mine.”
Miami has since added Georgia quarterback Carson Beck as a transfer, and it remains to be seen if the Pop-Tarts Bowl controversy impacts Ward’s draft stock. Regardless, he finished his collegiate career with the highest touchdowns (158) and third-most passing yards (18,189) in NCAA history.
Here’s what PFSN’s Dalton Miller writes about Ward’s Draft projection:
“Ward cemented himself as one of the two best passers in the class. Only Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders appears poised to contend as the top passer picked in the 2025 NFL Draft. Although the two passers share a few similarities… mainly in their flaws… they couldn’t be much different regarding their NFL projection.
“Drafting Ward is chasing the dragon while selecting Sanders is trying to extract every bit of upside in his frame to become a top-10 NFL QB. Sanders’s career trajectory likely sits within the 25-75th percentile range, while Ward could be Zach Wilson or Patrick Mahomes (lite). Choosing between the two is the difference between making a bet at 2-to-1 odds compared to 10-to-1.
“If a team forces Ward on the field as a rookie, it will likely lead to disaster. He’s not cognitively ready to work within an offensive structure on an NFL timeline. You’ll see the same social media highlight throws he made at Miami to a lesser degree while the turnovers remain a thorn in his side.
“He’ll be a 23-year-old rookie, but the position boasts longevity sans serious injury. Ward’s age is not a problem. The lack of development and continuation of frustrating mistakes makes a leap at the NFL level feel more fleeting.
“We’ve seen him light up the world in non-conference play for three seasons now at Washington State and Miami only to regress as the season progresses.
“In short, Ward’s bad habits must be removed through an insane volume of offseason repetitions with his personal position coach. That will take time, and taking live reps at the NFL level will likely only reinforce the bad habits he currently ails from.”