Cam Ward arguably possesses the best arm talent in the NFL Draft, showcasing impressive arm strength and velocity. He is a true gunslinger, willing to target all levels of the field, but this freewheeling style can lead to turnovers. While his potential is intriguing, he also has one of the lowest floors among the quarterback class.
He has the physical traits, experience and competitive toughness that you want in a prospect. Ward was a zero-star prospect with only two offers coming out of high school, from Texas Southern and Incarnate Word (to which he committed). He played two seasons at Incarnate Word before transferring to Washington State. After the 2023 season, he transferred to Miami to complete his college career.
Let's dive into the analysis below.
Cam Ward NFL Draft Bio
Measurable Metric | Listed |
|---|---|
Height: | 6-foot-2 |
Weight: | 219 |
Class: | Senior |
Birthdate: | May. 25, 2002 |
Position: | Quarterback |
Style: | Gunslinger |
Projected Draft Range: | Top 5 |
Grade: | Third-Round |
#Miami QB Cam Ward vs. Iowa State
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) December 29, 2024
Showed good touch to all levels of the field and his ability as a play extender. pic.twitter.com/G8IdNDtUDx
Strengths
He has very good size for the NFL quarterback position, and his arm talent is impressive due to his arm strength and velocity on the football, which allows him to target tight windows, specifically across the middle of the field. He has good arm flexibility, allowing him to adjust his release point when necessary.
Ward demonstrates the ability to assess incoming pressure pre-snap, showcasing good pocket mobility and the capability to extend plays and create opportunities post-snap. This often results in him communicating to his offensive line pre-snap and allowing them to adjust their protection.
Solid ball placement in the short to intermediate levels of the field, showing the touch needed to layer throws over second-level defenders.
Weaknesses
Ward displays marginal to adequate mental processing, particularly due to a lack of eye discipline and an inability to read post-snap coverage rotations. As the defense becomes more complex, he becomes more hesitant in his release and struggles to read it effectively.
Additionally, his mechanics are inconsistent, and his footwork needs work, leading to errant throws resulting from his throwing platform and often over-relying on his sidearm release. He also struggles to create synergy with his eyes and feet when releasing to his target, which also results in inconsistent ball placement. He completed only 45% of his deep passes due to inconsistent ball placement, often short-arming vertical throws (platform).
Although he excels at extending plays, he sometimes forces the issue by throwing across the field or seeing an open receiver late, which can lead to turnovers or potential turnovers instead of simply throwing the ball away.
Summary
Ward's potential is intriguing due to his physical stature, arm strength, velocity, and ability to extend plays and create opportunities after the snap. However, the most critical aspect of a quarterback's game lies in mental processing—the capacity to progress against more challenging defensive looks. He may have the lowest floor of all the quarterbacks in this class.
With his competitive toughness, he will need a patient organization and head coach, along with a nurturing offensive coordinator who can enhance his physical tools while developing his mental play and building an offense around his strengths.
Cam Ward potential NFL Draft Fits
Team |
|---|
Tennessee Titans |
Cleveland Browns |
New York Giants |
New York Jets |
Pittsburgh Steelers |