Much has been made about how unusual the 2025 NFL Draft is. A big part is that the talent levels aren’t where they were in other seasons.
Most draft analysts agree that quarterback Cam Ward will go first to the Tennessee Titans. That is the case in the most recent mock draft from PFSN. However, the picking order becomes murkier as the draft progresses.
In other years, the draft process is driven by a handful of top quarterbacks. This year, however, there are fewer elite quarterbacks, making it harder to predict. This has sparked the ever-popular debate about where a player like Ward would fit into the much more challenging class of 2024. Now, one of the foremost experts in the NFL weighs in on the debate and shares what he is hearing from various teams’ top brass.
Where Would Cam Ward Have Fit Into 2024’s Strong QB Class?
Adam Schefter, ESPN’s senior NFL insider, has unprecedented access to owners, general managers, and other front office staff, which almost no other reporter has.
In a recent ESPN “intel” article, Schefter shared his notes on what he hears about the league in these final days before the draft. Schefter said the issue of reliable quarterback talent is one of the most significant hiccups in this draft.
“At least one team does not have a first-round grade on any of the quarterbacks in this draft. The general manager of another team said there are ‘no surefire quarterback solutions’ and the top-rated passer in this class–Ward — would be the seventh-rated passer in last year’s class. ‘And I don’t think it’s close,’ he added,” conveyed Schefter about his conversations with the top brass on how they view Ward.
Schefter added that some have predicted that four quarterbacks will go in this year’s first round. However, some “smart people around the league” think only one or two might go in the top 32 picks.
There's one GM that Schefter knows of in the league that does not have one first round grade on any QB. @danorlovsky7 reacts ⬇️ https://t.co/G6433BgdLh pic.twitter.com/zo2NLr2Twt
— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) April 21, 2025
If only one or two get selected on Thursday, Schefter said it makes Friday, Day 2, more interesting.
“The Browns are scheduled to hold pick No. 33, Friday’s opening selection. The Giants are next at No. 34, and the Saints are scheduled to pick No. 40 but already are making calls about trading up. In the eyes of some around the league, it’s possible there could be more signal-callers selected in the first eight picks on Friday than there are in the 32 picks on Thursday.”
In 2024 the quarterbacks who would have been selected ahead of Ward would have been: Caleb Williams to the Chicago Bears, Jayden Daniels to the Washington Commanders, Drake Maye to the New England Patriots, Michael Penix, Jr. to the Atlanta Falcons, J.J. McCarthy to the Minnesota Vikings and finally, Bo Nix to the Denver Bronocs.
The Boncos took Nix with the 12th overall selection, so it is possible that if Ward were considered the seventh best, he still could have gone in the first round. Ward will likely go first overall, where the rest of the quarterbacks land is still anyone’s guess.