Cam Ward is the favorite to get drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The upcoming draft class is not stacked at the quarterback position, so various teams will be eyeing both Ward and Colorado Buffaloes QB Shedeur Sanders.
Ward is a much more explosive quarterback than Sanders, which is why teams at the top of the draft might be willing to take a chance on him and his high ceiling. The Miami quarterback could be on his way to either the Tennessee Titans or the Cleveland Browns, and Stephen A. Smith believes he deserves it.
Stephen A. Smith Breaks Down Why Cam Ward Should Get Drafted First
In a recent segment on ESPN’s “First Take,” Smith discussed how Ward should be the first quarterback off the board ahead of Shedeur Sanders.
“Cam Ward should be at the top of this list,” Smith said. “Shedeur has all the intangibles, and we love the poise, we love the pedigree. He can make the requisite throws, he can chunk up some yards on the ground, but he’s not that mobile, so listen to what they say about him. His arm is not that strong, he’s not that mobile, but he’s a winner, he finds a way to get things done.”
Smith mentioned how similar things are said about Brock Purdy but admitted that Sanders is an upgrade from the San Francisco 49ers quarterback on the basis of athleticism.
“He [Ward] has size, he has arm strength, he has all of those different things,” Smith added. “So, when you look at it from that standpoint, let’s say you’re talking about Cleveland, let’s say you’re talking about Tennessee, let’s say you talking about New York. I think you have to take those confines into consideration, as opposed to somebody playing indoors or somebody playing in confines, like Los Angeles, for example.”
Smith suggested that Ward’s traits should be considered for durability purposes, as these players will be competing against grown men in the National Football League.
Since Sanders doesn’t have any special trait which makes him stand out among the other players, teams might be a little worried about selecting him high in the draft. The Colorado star does have the ability to perform under pressure, but whether it will translate to the NFL remains to be seen.
Ward is still not guaranteed to be the first player off the board, as both Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter are considered better prospects than him and Sanders. Teams like the Titans and Browns might prefer to draft a generational player with the first overall pick rather than a quarterback that they are not sold on.
Moreover, players like Sam Darnold, Kirk Cousins, and potentially Aaron Rodgers being available as free agents could allow some teams to delay their plans to draft a quarterback until next year.
Slipping in Draft Could Work in Sanders’ Favor
If Ward continues to get hyped as he has been so far, it could work in Sanders’ favor. The New York Giants have the third overall pick, and the Las Vegas Raiders have the sixth overall pick. The 22-year-old quarterback has shown interest in these two teams and could be available for them during the draft.
Sanders would rather play for a team based in New York or Las Vegas than Tennessee or Cleveland, as it would provide him with more opportunities to build his brand.
Everyone knows how iconic Deion Sanders’ career was and the power he holds in his son’s draft process. If he wants to, he may let inform the Titans and Browns know that his son won’t play for them, similar to what Archie Manning did with Eli Manning in 2004.
Sanders’ path to New York is being paved, and his father will not hesitate in helping his son land alongside Malik Nabers with the Giants if necessary.