Mel Kiper Jr. identifies Cam Ward as potential climber, first-round option in 2025 NFL Draft

The 2025 NFL Draft is going to be an interesting one at the quarterback position with several good options at the top. Then, there are also options like Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward who are looking to climb into the first round.

During an appearance on Get Up, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. explained why he thinks that Cam Ward is now someone who can quickly rise up in the draft, potentially becoming a first-round talent.

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“Cam Ward was at Incarnate Word,” Kiper said. “Then he goes to Washington State, completes 67 percent of his passes. Now, he’s at Miami. You saw last week against Florida down in The Swamp what he’s capable of. All the arm angles, an unorthodox delivery, the mobility, the roll right, roll left, and make accurate throws. This kid has no fear of throwing the football at any point on the field. He’s on a team that will win 11 or 12 games and be in the Playoff.”

Certainly, Cam Ward caught plenty of people’s attention in Week 1 with his win over Florida. In that dominant 41-17 performance, Ward completed 26 of 35 pass attempts for 385 yards and three touchdowns. He did also have an interception.

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Prior to this season with Miami, Ward played for Washington State and Incarnate Word, taking advantage of the Transfer Portal. Following the 2023 season, he also considered going to the NFL. However, after looking at all his options closely, he decided to return to school and landed with the Hurricanes.

“Cam Ward from Miami with the Hurricanes, quarterbacks over the years there’s been great ones that came out of the Hurricanes program. Cam Ward is the next one. He could move up from that third, fourth round area and into round one.”

To Kiper’s point, Miami has a long history of putting talented quarterbacks in the NFL Draft. That list includes players like Ken Dorsey, Vinny Testaverde, and Jim Kelly among others. At the same time, the Hurricanes have only had one quarterback selected in the last 21 years. That was Brad Kaaya, who was a sixth round pick in 2017.

Now, Cam Ward has a chance to change that and once again have a Miami quarterback selected at the top of the NFL Draft.