NFL Exec: Cam Ward Would Be QB5 If He Was in 2024 NFL Draft Class with Williams, Maye

The New York Giants may be considering trading up to No. 1 in order to draft Cam Ward, but not all NFL executives are as impressed with the former Miami quarterback.

One AFC executive told ESPN's Turron Davenport and Jeremy Fowler that Ward would have been the fifth-best quarterback had he entered the 2024 NFL Draft.

Four quarterbacks heard their names called within the top 10 picks in 2024, including Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye in the top three selections. J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix were off the board by No. 12.

The anonymous executive ranked Ward "just behind" Nix but ahead of Michael Penix Jr. and J.J. McCarthy.

It was a season of unprecedented success for rookie quarterbacks. Williams, Daniels, Maye and Nix all finished their rookie seasons in a QB1 position, and McCarthy might have gotten his own shot had it not been for the season-ending knee injury he suffered in August.

Daniels went on to become the sixth rookie quarterback to start in a conference championship game as he led the Washington Commanders within one win of the Super Bowl.

The 2025 quarterback class is not expected to be as deep. Bleacher Report's latest 2025 NFL Draft Big Board ranks only Ward and Shedeur Sanders as top-32 prospects ahead of the upcoming draft. Other quarterbacks including Will Howard, Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe and Tyler Shough are projected as later-round picks.

The Giants are in immediate need of a signal caller after parting ways with Daniel Jones last season. In order to get their preferred pick, New York may need to get ahead of the Cleveland Browns and their similarly urgent quarterback needs at No. 2.

ESPN's Jordan Raanan recently reported the expectation at last week's scouting combine was the Giants are "likely" to trade up for the No. 1 pick, and in that case would use it to draft Ward. Davenport and Fowler meanwhile wrote that insiders surveyed by ESPN largely believe the Titans prefer trading out of the top spot to drafting Ward or Penn State edge-rusher Abdul Carter.

The relative depth of the incoming prospect class, combined with the Giants' quarterback needs, could set the stage for a trade ahead of the April 24 draft.