Daniel Jeremiah 2025 NFL Draft Big Board: Cam Ward Tops Shedeur Sanders in Rankings

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah ranked Miami quarterback Cam Ward just ahead of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders in his first big board for the 2025 NFL draft on Tuesday.

Jeremiah ranked Ward as his No. 10 overall prospect and Sanders as his No. 11 prospective draftee, which speaks to the razor-thin margin between them.

Ward and Sanders are the only quarterbacks who Jeremiah has given a first-round grade, as the next highest-ranked signal-caller on his big board is Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart at No. 41.

Ward and Sanders took somewhat similar paths to establish themselves as likely high picks in the 2025 NFL draft, as they both started out at FCS schools.

After beginning his playing career at Incarnate Word, Ward transferred to Washington State and spent two seasons with the Cougars.

He played his final collegiate season at Miami and took his game to the next level, completing 67.2 percent of his passes for 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions en route to a fourth-place finish in the Heisman Trophy voting.

Sanders followed his father, Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, from Jackson State to Colorado when Deion was hired to be the Buffaloes' new head coach.

Shedeur played two seasons at Colorado, first putting himself on the map in 2023 by completing 69.3 percent of his passing attempts for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns and only three interceptions.

The Buffs went just 4-8 in Sanders' first season, but they took a big leap forward in 2024 to the tune of a 9-4 record.

Shedeur also enjoyed a better individual campaign, completing 74.0 percent of his passes for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 picks, as he finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

Last year, quarterbacks came off the board with the first three picks in the 2024 NFL draft and with six of the first 12 selections.

The 2025 draft does not appear to be anywhere near 2024 in terms of high-end quarterback talent, but both Ward and Sanders have a strong chance to be among the top six picks given the importance of the quarterback position.

Picking Nos. 1 through 3 overall are the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants, all of whom need a quarterback.

If one or both of Ward or Sanders fall out of the top three, the next team with a glaring need under center is the Las Vegas Raiders, who will pick sixth overall.

Jeremiah has Penn State pass-rusher Abdul Carter and Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter as the top two players in the draft. It may be tough for teams picking near the top to pass them up, but the chance to take a potential franchise quarterback doesn't come around too often.

Because of that, Ward and Sanders are strong candidates to be top-six picks, and there likely won't be much separating them, as is the case with Jeremiah's rankings.