Cam Ward to Titans, Shedeur Sanders to Saints in Mel Kiper, Yates' 2025 NFL Mock Draft

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates didn't drop any major surprises as far as the top two quarterbacks in the class are concerned in their latest 2025 NFL mock draft, which was released Tuesday.

Remaining consistent with recent projections, Kiper and Yates predicted Miami quarterback Cam Ward to go first overall to the Tennessee Titans, and Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders to go ninth overall to the New Orleans Saints.

Here is a rundown of each of the top 10 selections from the newest joint mock venture involving Kiper and Yates:

1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami

2. Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado

3. New York Giants: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

4. New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT, LSU

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

6. Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

7. New York Jets: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri

8. Carolina Panthers: Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia

9. New Orleans Saints: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

10. Chicago Bears: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

All recent signs have been pointing toward the Titans taking their new franchise quarterback in Ward with the No. 1 overall pick. Last week, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reported that the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants are working under the "assumption" that Tennessee will select Ward.

It would be an understandable move from the Titans' perspective given the inability of 2023 second-round pick Will Levis to establish himself as the clear answer under center.

Through two NFL seasons, Levis has posted a 5-16 record as a starter, while completing 61.0 percent of his passes for 3,899 yards, 21 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

By comparison, Ward is coming off the best season of his collegiate career, completing 67.2 percent of his passing attempts for 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns and seven picks en route to finishing fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

While several teams picking after the Titans also have a need at quarterback, Kiper and Yates believe the No. 2 quarterback in the draft will fall all the way to the Saints with the ninth overall selection.

Sanders had two highly productive seasons playing under his father, Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, at Colorado.

As a senior, Sanders completed 74.0 percent of his passes for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He helped Travis Hunter win the Heisman Trophy, finished eighth in the Heisman voting in his own right and was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.

Last week, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport (h/t NFL.com's Nick Shook) reported that Saints starting quarterback Derek Carr is dealing with a shoulder injury, calling into question whether he will be able to play next season.

On top of that, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported that the Saints were already "on a mission" to select a quarterback in the 2025 draft even before concerns arose regarding Carr's health.

The Saints could wait until Day 2 and take a developmental quarterback prospect such as Jaxson Dart (if he makes it out of Round 1), Jalen Milroe or Tyler Shough, but Sanders seems far more pro-ready than the rest of them.

Sanders could potentially step in and start immediately, giving new head coach Kellen Moore the chance to mold him into a franchise quarterback right away.

The latest BR NFL Scouting Department mock draft is essentially in lockstep with Kiper and Yates, projecting Ward to the Titans and Sanders to the Saints, although the BR mock does have New Orleans trading up from No. 9 to No. 6 in order to secure Sanders.