2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Cam Ward

Prospect Summary:

Ward was a point machine over the past three seasons at Washington State, generating a prolific number of touchdowns. He broke out in 2021, completing 65 percent of his passes for 4,638 yards, 47 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. In 2022, Ward completed 64 percent of his passes for 3,231 yards with 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Ward then completed 67 percent of his passes in 2023 for 3,735 yards, 25 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also notched eight rushing touchdowns during 2023, which matched the total of his ground scores from the previous three seasons. Ward flirted with transferring to Miami or Florida State before deciding to enter the 2024 NFL Draft. He then backed out in time to complete his transfer to the Hurricanes. In 2024, Ward completed 67 percent of his passes for 4,313 yards with 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He had four rushing touchdowns as well.

As a quarterback, Ward is a unique prospect. At times, he can be an electric playmaker who can ad-lib his team into a big play. Ward is patient and dangerous when plays break down as he keeps his eyes downfield while scrambling and is capable of lofting the ball vertically to late-breaking receivers. Ward has flashes of good accuracy, but he is inconsistent with his accuracy. He needs to get more consistent with his footwork and ball placement. While Ward is dangerous off-script, he needs to get more effective on the script. Ward holds the ball too long, needs to get faster with his internal clock, and reduces his gambling instinct. Holding the ball too long and a slow clock will lead to sacks in the NFL, and gambling could lead to issues with interceptions. Ward has some mobility, but he is not a dynamic athlete who is a true dual-threat quarterback the pro level like Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen.

“He’s a solid player,” texted an AFC director of college scouting. “He’s small but also erratic with the ball. He’s a gambler. Not sure he has enough magic to have so much gamble. He will be a starter but a bottom 15 one.”

“I watched him last year, and this year, he looks the same,” said an NFC general manager. “He’s a poor man’s Russell Wilson to me.”

“If he was in last year’s class, he would have been the seventh-rated guy behind Bo [Nix],” said an AFC national scout. “He’s a distributor, not a gifted athlete. Holds the ball too long, has to get his internal clock better, makes plays off script. I think you could win with him, but not because of him.”

Ward looks like a future NFL starter, but team sources are not convinced that Ward will be a top-10 starting quarterback as a pro. Some feel you can win with him, but not necessarily because of him. However, others feel that Ward is a real gamer, a great competitor, and a winner. Thus, Ward has some boom/bust potential for the NFL.