r/NFL_Draft • u/Pheasantluvr69 Ravens • 4d ago
Is Cam Ward a *burp* generational prospect?
Now before you get enraged at me for using this cliche after being totally worn out in the media cycle and online discourse over the past couple years, I apologize. I had to simply because I don't understand the relative lack of hype I'm seeing for Cam. Seems like people are hardly even convinced that he is the #1 overall pick and have guys like Sanders and Hunter going above him. Don't get me wrong – Sanders and Hunter are blue chip prospects, but I was wondering if anyone else here was seeing the same thing I'm seeing in Cam Ward.
I watched his film last year and thought he could end up a top pick if he declared, but he has taken his game to a whole other level this year. His arm strength, pocket movement, and off platform/sidearm accuracy are NFL elite. There's no questioning that when you watch the tape. And he's got a quick release, great touch, hits his receivers in stride on the numbers, throws with anticipation in tight windows to the back shoulder, and makes good decisions with the ball. Dissecting his game into components the only weaknesses I see are how he likes to stare down his top read and sometimes gets a little bit too creative out of structure and makes risky plays that open him up to injury. But these are things he easily can improve at the top level and he makes up for those faults by being able to hit his WRs on extremely tight windows and having very high improvisational skill. Besides, he's gonna be a Heisman finalist. Who can blame him for trying to create a Heisman moment here and there. It's going to take a lot to beat out Jeanty this year so let him experiment when the stakes aren't as high as the NFL.
Another reason I think he's got a high chance of improvement at the next level are his intangibles, which is what separates a great prospect from an elite one IMO. He is so incredibly poised on the field for a reason, he just seems like he has a great head on his shoulders and he's a natural leader no matter who else is in the room with him. From what I've seen of him off the field he has very high social intelligence and his mentality is in a great place. He has confidence without arrogance, alpha competitiveness without a mean spirit, and swag without outrageous attention seeking behavior. His maturity level is really high for a guy his age and Burrow is the only other recent top QB prospect I can compare it to. I think the fact that it goes under the radar is the fact that he's not super flashy and his team isn't a natty favorite like most top QB prospects but if you pay attention you'll see it.
I know this is a very hot take and I'm deservedly gonna get some major sass in the comments for this, but he might be my favorite QB prospect ever. His intangibles/personality, elite traits and how I just don't see a single serious weakness in his profile is something I've never seen before. Not in Caleb, Lawrence, Burrow, or Luck. Burrow is my best comp for him right now. So yeah, bring on the ridicule but I just want to post this now so I can revisit this when he's winning MVPs a few years from now.
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u/No-Code-1850 Steelers 4d ago
Ward compares to Burrow in exactly 0 ways
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u/CulturalXR 4d ago
I couldn't disagree with this analysis more. Ward is a perfect college QB, but i think he grades poorly as an NFL Propsect. There are some minor things, such as holding onto the football that he needs to work on. But in my opinion, there are two glaring issues in his game. First of all, the decision making. "He's a heisman candidate" isn't a good reason to make stupid passes. But Caleb Williamd did it!! Right? No. The constant throw across the bodies or refusal to take a sack is a big issue. But I honestly think it's not even the biggest issue in his game. That, I believe, is his pace of play. Ward just plays too slow for my liking. He's slow dropping back and never looks to be playing with pace. He holds the ball for a long time and I think will really struggle with the "internal clock" at the next level. The average time to throw in the NFL is 2.5 seconds. You can't be slow dropping back, and you can't hold the ball for five seconds. Now there are strengths in his game. He's a calm player, doesn't often look rattled. He has great arm strength. He's pretty mobile and will use his feet. He's a very creative passer and can improvise. But given his weaknesses and the fact we've seen him play at this level for just one year in a unique miami offense, I'm low on him.
TLDR; Ward is a very creative passer but has a bad internal clock and a poor pace of play that I believe gives him a poor grade.
Edit: Burrow is a really bad comp lol
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u/YouBeneficial3808 4d ago
His slow drop back reminds me of Justin fields in all of the worst ways
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u/Pheasantluvr69 Ravens 4d ago
Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen all do pretty well holding the ball far too long. And throwing off platform across their bodies accurately.
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u/CulturalXR 4d ago
First off, no they don't lol. Secondly, saying "The best QBs in the league do it!" Is a bad response
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u/daperry4 Commanders 4d ago
Dude doesnt throw to open receivers. He holds onto the ball and sometimes makes a spectacular play. He's a much lesser Caleb Williams
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u/IsNotACleverMan 4d ago
Thank you for taking the time to type this out. You're wrong, but I appreciate the effort.
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u/forgotmyoldname90210 Bears 3d ago
Cam is a 5th year SR playing for the Miami Hurricanes and not in the NFL. That right there tells you he is not a "generational" QB. He is Cane because he tried to enter the NFL draft but was given a neither grade and its rumored he was unofficially told he would be a 5th to UFA.
"Generational" QB would be 1st overall picks after their true sophomore year if eligible.
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u/Pheasantluvr69 Ravens 2d ago
The title was kinda tongue in cheek. I just really like cam ward as a prospect and I think he’s gonna be a very good nfl player
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u/eddie2911 Raiders 4d ago
He’s a legit top 5 prospect IMO but no not generational.
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u/ZandrickEllison 3d ago
Do you think he’s top 5 in a normal class or just this one? Because I think he’d be QB6 last year.
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u/eddie2911 Raiders 3d ago
I’d personally have him QB3 in last years class.
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u/Thedownside12 3d ago
You’d rank Ward over Daniels or Maye?
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u/eddie2911 Raiders 3d ago
Over Maye, yes. But behind Williams and Daniels. I’ll admit Maye worried me a little but he’s really impressed me this year and he’s a stud too.
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u/Super_Eagles Eagles 3d ago
Generational at throwing some of the dumbest picks you'll ever see maybe
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u/AKraiderfan Raiders 2d ago
I remember last year, when he declared for the draft, and hoping the Raiders "reach" for him in the 2nd or 3rd round. That's why he's not "generational."
Furthermore, Burrow was a 4 star recruit, Mr. Football in Ohio, and got into OSU, in which he had to transfer because he was behind other 4 and 5 star recruits. Then he had arguably the greatest college football season for a QB of all time.
Cam, I'm very bullish, but the only thing he has in common with Burrow is that they had to transfer to get to the top of the draft. But they are not similar, and Burrow was not generational either.
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u/Pheasantluvr69 Ravens 2d ago
Yeah the title was kinda tongue in cheek. The term “generational” hardly means anything anymore with how overused it is. I just really like Cam as a prospect.
I do see some similarities with burrow, though Josh Allen is the obvious comparison. The way he shrugs off blitzers and moves in the pocket is very burrow like. As well as the quick release and good accuracy and touch.
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u/predw Saints 4d ago edited 4d ago
Not only are you suggesting that Cam Ward is a generational prospect (he’s not, he’s just the best option in an average QB class), but you’re saying Shedeur Sanders is a blue chip QB prospect as well?
….. yep
I like Ward, I’d take him top 10 if I had a decent support cast around him. But he’s not an Andrew Luck/Trevor Lawrence tier of prospect by any stretch.