NFL Scout: Cam Ward “Leaves You Asking, ‘What the Heck Was He Thinking There?'”

ESPN’s Jordan Reid released the first edition of his 2025 QB Hot Board on Monday, and Miami quarterback Cam Ward was second on the list behind only Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.

His strong play this season—he’s thrown for 2,219 yards, 20 touchdowns and five interceptions, completing 69.2 percent of his passes while leading the Hurricanes to a perfect 6-0 record and No. 6 overall ranking—combined with his electric playmaking ability has shot him up draft boards. He isn’t a perfect prospect, however.

“He has times where he has to scratch his itch for reckless plays, and it leaves you asking, ‘What the heck was he thinking there?'” an AFC area scout told Reid. “I like him and don’t know if that can be coached out of him.”

Gunslinger quarterbacks have had varied success at the NFL level, from superstars like Brett Favre, Patrick Mahomes (at least early in his career) and Josh Allen to players who didn’t quite make it work (think Jameis Winston, Carson Wentz and Will Levis if he continues on his current path).

The defining feature of the gunslinger is letting it fly at any moment, odds of success be damned, often seeking the big play rather than taking the easy read within the structure of the offense. The players who make it work aren’t consistently punished for the big risks they take, often due to unique physical gifts (Favre’s rocket for an arm; Mahomes perfect blend of escapability, arm talent and creativity; Allen’s size, scrambling and arm strength). The players who don’t make it work end up being turnover machines.

Ward undoubtedly has some of that off-script, gunslinger DNA in his game, for better or worse. The NFL team that ultimately drafts him will hope he’s more of an Allen than a Wentz.