2025 NFL Draft: Why Kurt Warner ranks Cam Ward forward of Shedeur Sanders
Evaluating quarterback play is certainly one of my favourite workouts, and there aren’t many higher individuals to do this with than a Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer.
Kurt Warner joined me on the newest episode of “The Joel Klatt Present” to debate passing ideas, quarterback play within the NFL at this time and plenty of extra quarterback-related gadgets.
We additionally mentioned our evaluations of the quarterback prospects within the 2025 NFL Draft, notably Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. Final month, I ranked Sanders forward of Ward in my checklist of the highest 5 quarterbacks on this yr’s draft class. As Warner and I might be part of NFL Community’s Draft Day protection subsequent month, I needed to choose his mind a bit and see how he views Ward and Sanders a month out from the draft.
This is a snippet of our dialog.
Klatt: So let me simply begin with this: You noticed all the blokes on the mix. As you put together for the draft, how do you stack up this class typically, and what had been your total emotions of the category after Indy?
Warner: I believed the category was stable throughout the board. After I suppose again to Indy, I type of suppose that numerous instances it type of goes up and down, and you bought some guys which can be fairly good, after which the blokes that are not excellent. I believed this class as an entire we had quite a few guys that threw the ball nicely on the mix. I do not do numerous tape research earlier than the mix, perhaps do some bit simply to get only a contact of who these guys are. As you realize, I do not watch numerous faculty soccer throughout the NFL season. I am an NFL man, at the beginning. So, I wish to go to the mix and get an opportunity to see the blokes, after which I will pop on the tape afterward, which I have been doing for the final week or so.
This is the attention-grabbing factor for me: After I watch them on tape, I am undecided any of those guys are that totally different from a processing, taking part in on time, studying the sphere sort of perspective. I really feel like the vast majority of these guys, no less than on the high of the category, are very related guys after I watch them on tape. If you happen to simply took the names off the jerseys and also you seemed, you’d go, “OK. I’ve seen that earlier than. I’ve seen that earlier than. I’ve seen that earlier than.”
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Now Cam (Ward), he is received a little bit further uniqueness to his capacity to throw the soccer. I believe that is what catapults him to the highest of the category. I do not suppose while you watch him in comparison with these different guys, like Shedeur, Jaxson [Dart] or Tyler [Shough], that while you watch his decision-making and throwing on time that Cam jumps off the pages, like “Oh gosh, he is so a lot better in all these areas.” I simply suppose he is received a little bit uniqueness to the best way he throws the soccer. Perhaps a little bit extra muscle on the ball. He has the power to throw off platform. So, I believe you place [Ward] on the high as a result of what if that expertise transfers to the following stage, do now we have one thing particular past that?
Klatt: Whenever you take a look at a man like Cam, what sort of offense do you see him thriving in on the subsequent stage?
Warner: That is an excellent query. What I actually consider about all of those guys, even Cam, is that I am undecided any of those guys is an effective sufficient athlete to outlive on the NFL stage being an athletic quarterback, if that is smart. that the Josh Allen’s, Lamar Jackson‘s and the Patrick Mahomes‘. I believe most of those guys, if they will be actually good on the subsequent stage, it is received to return right down to processing and getting the ball out of their palms, as a result of I do not suppose any of them are nice at shopping for time or being elusive.
That is the factor that basically fascinates me, as a result of we by no means actually know, particularly while you watch guys in faculty. It actually frustrates me to look at faculty tape as a result of after I was watching Cam, what I stated was 90% of his throws went to his first man, or it was a scramble. There wasn’t an entire lot else you’d see. You would not see him go increase, increase and work by these items.
I believe that was the case with quite a few these guys. Most guys ought to be capable of make these throws, however I did not see the processing and dealing by issues. That is the place that is so exhausting for me. If you happen to battle to do this on the NFL stage, I do not suppose any of those guys have that further to beat it.
Klatt: What’s your tackle Shedeur Sanders?
Kurt Warner’s recommendation to gamers getting into the 2025 NFL Draft
Warner: Shedeur might throw the very best ball, and what I imply by that’s the most catchable and correct of all these guys. I like that he can tempo the ball. Whether or not it is due to arm power or no matter, he by no means throws it exhausting. He by no means has to throw it by you. I like that side of issues. I like guys that perceive the best way to make totally different throws. He is received nice contact. I believe he throws a extremely good deep ball.
I watched a few of his [tape] from the start of the yr and I watched the final 4 video games of all these quarterbacks. You talked about the offensive line. After I break down quarterbacks, I attempt to eradicate what has occurred all yr lengthy. I attempt to have a look at it play from play … did you do the suitable factor on this play?
I felt within the final 4 video games, Shedeur was very uneasy within the pocket. Like, very seldom did I see him sturdy within the pocket, get again and set, and browse and ship the ball. It was like he was at all times uneasy again there. You talked concerning the sacks and points they’d upfront. Perhaps that led to, “OK, these final 4 video games, I’m simply not simple as a result of I’ve gotten hit a lot.”
That was the factor that involved me. He very seldom went by the method. It was type of like he would return, see the primary man after which get uneasy, making an attempt to create a throw versus simply taking part in the sport. That’s a priority for me. Is that one thing solely due to the scenario right here and due to the offensive line?
I preferred the throws. I preferred a number of the totally different throws and ideas he needed to play by as a result of that’s thrilling for me. After I watched Bo Nix final yr, I had the identical questions on throwing the ball down the sphere. However what I cherished was that he had essentially the most in depth playbook of anyone in faculty soccer final yr. … I felt that he did that extraordinarily nicely and why I felt he may translate to the NFL stage.
Shedeur needed to do a few of that. Shedeur needed to run some extra pro-style offense there. I like that a part of it, and also you’ve been uncovered to that.
Joel Klatt is FOX Sports activities’ lead faculty soccer sport analyst and the host of the podcast “The Joel Klatt Present.” Observe him at @joelklatt and subscribe to the “Joel Klatt Present” on YouTube.
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