Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward are considered the best choices in a weak quarterback draft class this year. Both of them helped their respective programs to a successful 2024 campaign and are now top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Sanders led the Colorado Buffaloes to a 9-4 campaign and an Alamo Bowl appearance while winning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. Meanwhile, Cam Ward led the Miami Hurricanes to a 10-3 record and a Pop-Tart Bowl appearance while being honored with the Davey O’Brien Award for his contributions.
Amidst their competition, one former NFL scout has dropped his verdict on who is better.
Former NFL Scout Drops Verdict on Competition Between Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward
Former New York Jets scout Daniel Kelly has been constantly sharing his opinions on the competition between these quarterbacks, and on Thursday, Feb. 20, he came forward with his final verdict on the matter.
In a tweet Kelly shared, he chose Ward over Sanders as the best quarterback in this draft.
“(Cam) Ward is the best quarterback in this draft class, and it’s not close,” Kelly tweeted.
“Miami QB Cam Ward has what it takes to turn an NFL franchise around. He succeeds in new environments and he has elite traits in spades- he’s aggressive, smart, athletic, creative, competitive, and uber-confident,” Kelly wrote.
“In two seasons with the Cougars, Ward reminded me of Eagles’ QB Jalen Hurts. This season at Miami — he reminded me of Chiefs’ QB Patrick Mahomes…
“Ward got out-of-pocket at Miami displaying a dominant unstructured brand of football. He was good at Washington State, but he looked great at Miami.”
Draft Analyst Dubs Ward an Underrated Prospect
NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reid seems to agree with Kelly, arguing that Ward is not getting the recognition he deserves and that people are not paying attention to his potential.
On Friday, Reid appeared on “The Domonique Foxworth Show” and explained why he would pick Ward over Sanders while also stating that Ward would have surpassed Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy if they were in the same draft class.
“I’m completely different on my opinion of Cam Ward,” Reid said. “I think he’s being severely underrated in this year’s draft class. I think I have him ahead of J.J. McCarthy if he was in this draft class. I think he would be in contention to be the first quarterback picked after those guys that we saw go at the top of the draft.
“I think Cam Ward would definitely be in that tier along with J.J. McCarthy as being that fourth quarterback off the board.”
“I think (Cam Ward) is being severely underrated in this draft class. I have him ahead of JJ McCarthy if he was in this draft class.” – @Jordan_Reid explains why he has Ward ahead of Shedeur Sanders and explains where the Miami QB would have been drafted in last year’s class.… pic.twitter.com/nKbVacf77S
— The Domonique Foxworth Show (@FoxworthShow) February 21, 2025
It remains to be seen which quarterback will be selected first in the 2025 NFL Draft.
In PFSN’s latest 2025 mock draft, NFL draft analyst Joe DeLeone has Ward going No. 1 overall to the New York Giants (who traded up with the Tennessee Titans), while Sanders goes No. 6 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Ward, Sanders Exchange Trash Talk During Workout
Recently, Ward and Sanders engaged in some heated trash talk while working out together at UNLV. In a behind-the-scenes video, the Hurricanes quarterback took shots at his counterpart’s pass completion percentage, 77.4%.
Sanders actually set the NCAA record for the highest career completion percentage (74%). While Sanders’ completion percentage is impressive, Ward clowned him about how he achieved that number.
“They gave you a completion percentage award when all you did was throw checkdowns and bubble screens,” Ward said to Sanders.
Ward, who completed 67.2% of his passes, took a dig at Sanders, arguing that if he had played the same way, his percentage would have been 90%.
“That’s actually crazy. If I did that, my completion percentage would be 90. I throw the ball downfield; you don’t,” Ward said to Sanders.
Sanders fired back: “You ran the ball; you had a run game [at Miami].”
Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward going back and forth:
"They gave you a completion percentage award when all you did was throw checkdowns and bubble screens." 💀💀 pic.twitter.com/3ThJmKMS4t
— The Giants Report (@GiantsReport1) February 19, 2025
Ward continued: “That’s how you got a 70% completion rate. All you do is this, look, LaJohntay [Wester], bubble screen, touchdown. I ain’t throwing bubble screens!”
Sanders said he could find highlights of Ward throwing bubble screens. Ward fired back, “Of course I threw, like, four. You lived and died off of it!”
“Consistency, that’s what he lacks,” Sanders said of Ward with a laugh.
“Do you got a Golden Arm?” Sanders asked Ward before teasing him for “missing that Golden Arm award,” referencing the fact that he won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award over the Miami QB.
After a good throw, Ward responded, “That’s the golden arm right there. … I ain’t had a bad rep yet.”
“You lyin’,” Sanders said.
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In another video, Ward continues to poke fun at Sanders.
“I hope you’re not getting water, we just had the first drill,” Ward said. “I know you aren’t getting water, we ain’t even done with the first drill. That’s how it is at Colorado, though. That’s what it’s like for a nine-win man.”
The video is censored, but it appears Sanders refers to Ward as “bi*** a**” before responding, “I don’t drink water; I drink Gatorade — the sh** I get paid for.”
“That’s cool,” Ward said.
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While the trash talk will continue between the two-star quarterbacks, they are expected to be among the top five picks in this year’s NFL Draft.
Sanders threw for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions and rushed for four touchdowns last season.
Meanwhile, Ward, who transferred to Miami from Washington State for his last college season, threw for 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns, and seven interceptions while rushing for four TDs.