NFL Draft Notes: Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders, Quinn Ewers

Cam Ward

Miami QB Cam Ward considers himself capable of being a “plus-and-play” type of quarterback for the Titans, who pick No. 1 overall. He points out how they ran similar route concepts at Miami. 

“I was able to watch a couple of their games this past season. A lot of their route concepts are similar stuff that we do [at Miami],” Ward said, via ProFootballTalk. “So, if I were drafted there, I just think it’d be plug-and-play.”

Ward feels they have a strong coaching staff and roster in Tennessee under HC Brian Callahan and would love the opportunity to play there. 

“It’s a great staff they’ve put together,” Ward said. “They’ve got unbelievable players. So I just hope that God puts me, you know, in the situation.”

Ward called himself a self-motivated type of player and believes his approach to the game separates him from other prospects

“I think just what separates me from everybody is the way I approach it, the mindset I have going onto the field each and every game,” Ward said. “And coming from my journey, not a lot of people can do that. So I just think it shows the world that I’m willing to put in — whether I go first round or second round, at the end of the day … it’s all about establishing yourself with each and every opportunity.”

Shedeur Sanders

Shedeur Sanders enters the 2025 NFL Draft as one of the top quarterbacks available and is expected to go very early in the first round. He thinks his background in helping elevate Colorado and Jackson State’s football programs is a testament of his ability to “change the franchise or the culture.”

“That’s the plan,” Sanders said, via ProFootballTalk. “If that’s not what you’re trying to do, don’t get me. If you ain’t trying to change the franchise or the culture, don’t get me. You should know that history repeats itself over and over and over. I’ve done it over and over and over, so it should be no question why an NFL franchise should pick me.”

Sanders reiterated how he turned things around at two schools in his college career and has proven his quality as a quarterback. 

“I’ve done it at two locations already, so it’s simple,” Sanders said. “That’s why when people say I’m not one of the top quarterbacks or the top quarterback, it’s what are y’all going based off of, because I did year after year after year after year and you see the progression. So, obviously it’s got to be some type of external hate that you have for the last name for anything, because I know I proved myself on the field.”

Sanders isn’t overly concerned about being the No. 1 overall pick. 

“The number where you go don’t matter,” Sanders said. “I reference Tom Brady, because he is the best of the best in all categories. He ain’t go first. So, the number you get picked don’t matter. I wasn’t the top-rated quarterback coming out of high school, because there a lot of things that people will like and don’t like about me. I’m realistic, and I’m realistic about my family and everything that people say that comes with it.”

Quinn Ewers

Texas QB Quinn Ewers mentioned he had lucrative offers to stay put in college, but felt it was time to embark on his NFL career.  

“I wanted to leave my legacy at Texas, and I didn’t want to disrupt anything that I did at Texas to be flipped or turned in any other way. I just wanted to be remembered in college at Texas,” Ewers said, via Todd Archer of ESPN.

Ewers dealt with a torn oblique and a high ankle sprain last season, injuring his oblique in September and ankle in November. He believes he was only healthy for three games in 2024. 

“Just kind of thought it was a little tweak and then throughout practice it got worse and worse and worse, and then obviously it kind of popped against UTSA,” Ewers said. “I’d probably say I played two games, maybe three games, healthy … They labeled as a sprain but it didn’t feel like just a sprain.”

Ewers said his injury history has been a topic in his NFL Combine meetings, but he understands why teams are asking about them. In the end, he believes playing through injuries have added to his character and resilience. 

“They’re making a big investment on a guy, and they want to know who they’re dealing with,” Ewers said. “I’m an open book about it because I think it makes me who I am at the end of the day. I wouldn’t have the character I have, the mental toughness I have, the resilience that I have if I didn’t go through some of these things.”