The 2025 NFL Draft is fast approaching, and with it, continued debate over which prospect is going to join a select group of players who have been #1 overall picks in the draft. Some believe that Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter is the best player in the class; others say Colorado duo Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders ought to be in contention to be the top overall selection, which belongs this season to the Tennessee Titans — a franchise that hasn’t picked first since the 1970s.
Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward is another player in the conversation to go first overall in the draft, which begins April 24 in Green Bay, Wisc. Whether Ward joins the Titans or another franchise, one prominent analyst says the team that picks him is getting its own version of Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes.
Ward praised for “elite arm” and strong decision-making
NFL analyst Chris Simms believes Ward is not only the best quarterback in this draft class — with elite traits, such as a strong and accurate right arm, Simms says that Ward could become the best signal-caller in the league, period.
“When he wants to step on the gas and throw a laser, he can do that. But not only elite arm in that aspect, he’s very Mahomes-ish with all the ability, the different arm angles, he gets the ball out and little quick game screens, RPOs, as quick as you can possibly get it out,” Simms said. “His decision-making is damn good.”
In his one and only season at Miami in 2024, Ward garnered serious Heisman Trophy consideration after he threw 39 touchdown passes, the highest total in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Ward led the Atlantic Coast Conference in a number of passing categories, including yards per attempt, yards per completion, and passing efficiency rating. He threw for 4,313 yards over 13 games and was intercepted just seven times.
There have been a handful of quarterbacks who have elicited the coveted Mahomes comparison since the former Texas Tech gunslinger achieved NFL stardom by winning the league’s MVP award in 2018. Mahomes has since won a second MVP award and three Super Bowl titles — meaning anyone coming for his throne has to be pretty special himself.
Only time will tell if Ward becomes “the new Mahomes”, or another quarterback who couldn’t rise above the pressure of pro football.
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