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Cam Ward vs. Shedeur Sanders: Breaking down the top of a shallow QB class
Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders have long been considered the top quarterbacks in the 2025 draft class. Both have routinely appeared high in mock drafts and have been in the first-overall pick discussion since the 2025 NFL offseason began. Since the Combine, Ward has taken over as QB1, with legendary draft expert Mel Kiper projecting him as the No. 1 pick in his latest mock draft.
This year’s quarterback crop is weak, but the odds are strong that both of these guys will have their name called within the first 10 selections. So which one is better? Neither is a perfect prospect, but the consensus is that these two could produce early in their careers. Let’s break down each guy, and see how they compare.
Ward spent his final collegiate season at Miami after two-year stops at Incarnate Word and then Washington State. He started every game in college and left Miami as the all-time Division 1 leader in career touchdowns with 178 (158 passing, 20 rushing).
His one season at Miami was special as Ward led the Hurricanes to a 9-0 start, including multiple massive comebacks where he had to take the game over. Miami finished the regular season 10-2 and missed the College Football Playoff, but Ward stuck around for the team’s bowl game (at least half of it). He finished 2024 with 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and completed 67.2% of his passes.
The best parts of Ward’s game are his arm strength, confidence, and anticipation. He has arguably the best arm in the class and shows that when he routinely whips throws into tight windows. He’ll put the ball in harm’s way at times, but he’ll be able to get away with it at the next level given his arm strength.
By no means is Ward an elite athlete, but he has enough quickness, speed, and awareness to be dangerous in space. There are questions about his ability to read defenses and process coverages, but he finds the backside of plays enough that he won’t be starting from rock bottom in that area when he gets to the NFL. Ward has the best tools and upside in the class but he’ll need to prove he’s more than a big arm with quick feet.
Sanders has caught a lot of flack since the Combine where he reportedly was “unprofessional” when meeting with teams. He’s also had to deal with heat from having Deion Sanders as a father. Shedeur began his college career at Jackson State, where his dad was the head coach. After back-to-back SWAC championships, Coach Prime left for Colorado and Shedeur followed.
The initial step up in competition hit hard as Shedeur was limited to just over 3,200 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2023. He rebounded well the next year throwing for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He also completed 74% of his passes which made him the career FBS leader in completion percentage at 71.8%.
Sanders has been touted as an elite processor who makes up for a weaker arm with pinpoint accuracy and decision-making. His ability to read defenses is likely not elite, but he diagnoses coverages well and is more than willing to take a hit so routes can develop. He played behind one of the worst offensive lines in college football in 2023, so Sanders had to develop poise and toughness to keep the offense moving.
His accuracy numbers are historic, but a good chunk of his completions were on underneath throws to Travis Hunter. His two biggest issues are his average-at-best arm and limited athletic ability. Sanders may be a better processor than Ward, but he won’t be able to get away with the same mistakes. Sanders struggles to drive balls into tight windows, and will not consistently escape NFL pass rushers. He’s arguably the most complete QB in the class, but NFL defenses devour weak-armed quarterbacks who can’t escape the rush.
This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: Cam Ward vs. Shedeur Sanders: Breaking down top of shallow QB class
Continue reading...
Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders have long been considered the top quarterbacks in the 2025 draft class. Both have routinely appeared high in mock drafts and have been in the first-overall pick discussion since the 2025 NFL offseason began. Since the Combine, Ward has taken over as QB1, with legendary draft expert Mel Kiper projecting him as the No. 1 pick in his latest mock draft.
This year’s quarterback crop is weak, but the odds are strong that both of these guys will have their name called within the first 10 selections. So which one is better? Neither is a perfect prospect, but the consensus is that these two could produce early in their careers. Let’s break down each guy, and see how they compare.
Cam Ward
Ward spent his final collegiate season at Miami after two-year stops at Incarnate Word and then Washington State. He started every game in college and left Miami as the all-time Division 1 leader in career touchdowns with 178 (158 passing, 20 rushing).
His one season at Miami was special as Ward led the Hurricanes to a 9-0 start, including multiple massive comebacks where he had to take the game over. Miami finished the regular season 10-2 and missed the College Football Playoff, but Ward stuck around for the team’s bowl game (at least half of it). He finished 2024 with 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and completed 67.2% of his passes.
The best parts of Ward’s game are his arm strength, confidence, and anticipation. He has arguably the best arm in the class and shows that when he routinely whips throws into tight windows. He’ll put the ball in harm’s way at times, but he’ll be able to get away with it at the next level given his arm strength.
By no means is Ward an elite athlete, but he has enough quickness, speed, and awareness to be dangerous in space. There are questions about his ability to read defenses and process coverages, but he finds the backside of plays enough that he won’t be starting from rock bottom in that area when he gets to the NFL. Ward has the best tools and upside in the class but he’ll need to prove he’s more than a big arm with quick feet.
Shedeur Sanders
Sanders has caught a lot of flack since the Combine where he reportedly was “unprofessional” when meeting with teams. He’s also had to deal with heat from having Deion Sanders as a father. Shedeur began his college career at Jackson State, where his dad was the head coach. After back-to-back SWAC championships, Coach Prime left for Colorado and Shedeur followed.
The initial step up in competition hit hard as Shedeur was limited to just over 3,200 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2023. He rebounded well the next year throwing for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He also completed 74% of his passes which made him the career FBS leader in completion percentage at 71.8%.
Sanders has been touted as an elite processor who makes up for a weaker arm with pinpoint accuracy and decision-making. His ability to read defenses is likely not elite, but he diagnoses coverages well and is more than willing to take a hit so routes can develop. He played behind one of the worst offensive lines in college football in 2023, so Sanders had to develop poise and toughness to keep the offense moving.
His accuracy numbers are historic, but a good chunk of his completions were on underneath throws to Travis Hunter. His two biggest issues are his average-at-best arm and limited athletic ability. Sanders may be a better processor than Ward, but he won’t be able to get away with the same mistakes. Sanders struggles to drive balls into tight windows, and will not consistently escape NFL pass rushers. He’s arguably the most complete QB in the class, but NFL defenses devour weak-armed quarterbacks who can’t escape the rush.
This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: Cam Ward vs. Shedeur Sanders: Breaking down top of shallow QB class
Continue reading...
