Cam Ward NFL Draft Overview
Wow, who would have thought the small QB from Incarnate Ward could be the talk of the town in 2024? The no-star QB recruit from West Columbia, Texas, had no FBS offers and became a Star in lower-level competition. After legendary seasons at Incarnate, Ward transferred to Washington State and lit up the scoreboards with passing yards, TDs, and ints. Ward is a good athlete with a good arm to make all the throws. He can be used in the QB run game and extends plays with the best of them. After transferring to Miami, the hype is impossible with what he can bring to their squad.
Height: 6’1 inches
Weight: 223 lbs
Cam Ward Player Evaluation
Ward’s Strengths
- Arguably the best QB in the draft at extending plays and making plays in the run.
- He is a very fluid runner with good long strides and is highly confident in his athleticism.
- He has underrated flexibility in his arm to make various throws from different angles.
- He has a strong arm and can make all the throws accurately at all three levels of the field.
- He does not mind pushing the ball downfield and throwing it into tight windows.
- He is a Quick decision-maker who works the quick passing game.
- He also has the athletic ability to extend the play if it all breaks down.
- He spent multiple years in the air raid system, where he developed his IQ and poise in the pocket.
- His thick, powerful lower half makes it difficult to sack and bring down quickly.
- Has significantly improved as a passer since his time at Incarnate World.
- He has the arm strength to add velocity, but he also shows touch on his passes when needed.
- He throws with anticipation and leads WRS when on target with throws.
Ward’s Weakness
- At this point in his career, he is more of a gunslinger than a playmaker. He showed improvement in the Oregon game, but his UCLA game was not impressive.
- He has a very good arm and tier-two Arm strength, but he is not elite, and he makes decisions like he’s elite, leading to forced throws and interceptions.
- Like any playmaker, Ward holds the ball too long on some plays, looking for the big play. This leads to sacks, and his fumble issue leads to turnovers.
- He can speed up his process when facing too much pressure, leading to inaccurate throws.
- Has zero snaps in a traditional NFL-type offense. Has been in Air-Raid entire career.
- Due to being a very low recruit, he has bounced around college. He is on his third team in 5 years.
- He needs to work on going through progressions and playing on time more consistently.
Projection: Second Round Draft Pick
Best Fits: New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys
Bottom Line
The bottom line is Cam Ward is the definition of prospect “gems” that can be found anywhere. From zero-star recruit from Texas to potential Miami Hurricane program savior, Ward is under immense pressure. How he handles this pressure could be the difference between the first-round and a late-day two-draft pick. Ward has the arm talent, escape ability, and experience to be a coveted draft Quarterback. However, he must improve his decision-making and accuracy to become the complete package.
Main Photo: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
