ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his first NFL Mock Draft for 2025, and a surprising name is featured first overall.
Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward had incredible success this year. After that great season, the longtime ESPN draft analyst has seen enough apparently. In his first mock draft published this year, Kiper Jr. named the Hurricanes quarterback as the top selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.
In that case, Ward would go to the Tennessee Titans. And thus, they’d replace former top quarterback Will Levis Jr. in the process.
Kiper Jr.’s mock draft will get plenty of attention as the day goes on. Ward being the top choice is a bit of a surprise considering the host of talented players at the top of this year’s draft. Sheduer Sanders has contended for the top spot, for instance.
Given rumors that Deion Sanders may force his son Shedeur Sanders somewhere, it might make sense that the Colorado quarterback isn’t projected as this year’s top pick. He’s very talented, but other environmental factors may put him elsewhere.
Ward as Miami’s top pick would be a major coup for him and the Hurricanes program. While Miami has had plenty of success in its history, they’ve been chasing those dragons lately. And in the NFL Draft, they’re not nearly as prominent a name as they were.
Ward would become the first Hurricane to go first overall in the NFL Draft since 1991, when the Dallas Cowboys selected Russell Maryland with the top pick. In 1987, Vinny Testaverde went first overall, standing as the only ‘Canes quarterback to be picked at the top.
Many NFL fans reacted to the mock draft and the surprising choice at the top.
Cam is a better bet on handling the on field chaos that comes with being a bad enough team to draft that high so yeah, take him 1. https://t.co/NH3UI8z8Iy
— #Rake (@SteveCarterPP) January 22, 2025
I just don’t see the Cam Ward hype https://t.co/5T8KcwgVtx
— 😶🌫️ (@CaliCardo) January 22, 2025
I’m tired of these different mock drafts! Cam is and always have been the clear #1 draft pick! His game is better than any other QB in the draft. https://t.co/OT7ILDzPBi
— Davon (@Davon_W93) January 22, 2025
Cam is a better bet on handling the on field chaos that comes with being a bad enough team to draft that high so yeah, take him 1. https://t.co/NH3UI8z8Iy
— #Rake (@SteveCarterPP) January 22, 2025
2025 NFL Draft will begin on April 24, 2025, live from Green Bay, Wisconsin, for the very first time.
About Chris Novak
Chris Novak has been talking and writing about sports ever since he can remember. Previously, Novak wrote for and managed sites in the SB Nation network for nearly a decade from 2013-2022