Shaydur Sanders vs. Cam Ward: Which QB Should Go First in the 2025 NFL Draft?

As the college football season unfolded, it quickly became clear that one quarterback stood above the rest when it came to the NFL Draft: Shadow Sanders.

The Colorado signal-caller has been rock-solid all season, leading the Buffs to a 9-3 record and a date with BYU in the Alamo Bowl (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET). And Sanders remains at the top of the odds board, -200 this week to go No. 1 overall (bet $10 to win $15 total).

But another player is gaining steam of late: miamiof Cam Wardwho has led his team to a 10-2 mark and a matchup against Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET). The Cannes star is second in betting odds to go No. 1 overall at +170 ($10 bet to win $27 total).

With the race heating up, we thought it would be fun to have our experts take a closer look at these two quarterbacks and hear which QB deserves to be drafted first.

Jason McIntyre, Rob Rang, Bucky Brooks and RJ Young were up for the task. Here’s what they had to say.

Which QB should be selected first in the NFL Draft, Cam Ward or Shaydur Sanders?

Jason McIntyre: Cam Ward

I had Cam Ward No. 1 in my mock draft, and for most teams that are QB-needy, I’d take Ward. He’s a very talented thrower, moves fluidly in the pocket, and leads the Miami Hurricanes back to relevance this season — he turns 23 in May and maturity won’t be an issue.

(Jason McIntyre’s mock draft: Giants take Ward No. 1, Raiders get Sanders)

One team that would definitely make sense for Shadur Sanders is the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders thought they had the “face” of the franchise in Jon Gruden, and it failed miserably. Sanders is a big-time star, but I see a lot of backyard football in him – like Caleb Williams.

But Sanders has only played football for his dad dating back to high school, where his dad was the offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian in Texas. Then they both went to Jackson State. Then they both moved to Colorado.

If your team drafts Scheuder, just know that the clock immediately starts ticking on Deion Sanders becoming your next head coach. I’m not sure how many coaches will push back against this before the draft.

Rob Rang: Shadow Sanders

No quarterback has improved his NFL draft stock in 2024 more than Ward, but in the race to become the first signal-caller selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, Sanders is well ahead of him.

Statistics can be bent to prove many things, but in the case of Sanders’ FBS-leading 74.2% completion rate this season, the numbers reflect what’s on film — the simple fact that “Deion’s kid” The best quarterback is the country.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Sanders doesn’t have a howitzer for an arm. Frankly, Wards is strong. Additionally, Sanders has a casual, efficient release, while Wards is lightning-quick. And don’t be surprised if Ward also takes bigger and more explosive measures in whatever workout quarterbacks choose to do. Ward’s inspirational journey from incarnate Wood to Washington State to Heisman Trophy finalist at Miami is undeniable and the perceived Ladley Sanders has experienced playing with his father as head coach over the past four years.

However, from a pure football perspective, Sanders stands out from other quarterbacks in this class, especially in his accuracy and anticipation. In the pocket or on the move, he fires short and intermediate passes with confidence and lofts the ball downfield with plus-touch and trajectory, often throwing his receivers open. Although there are some questionable decisions on his tape — a pick-six early against Nebraska, for example — he rarely makes the same mistake twice, showing the savvy that comes from watching and playing the game at a high level. spends a lifetime in

And while his flamboyant personality may be seen as a concern by some, it’s precisely his experience and apparent comfort in the spotlight that may, in fact, make Sanders popular with teammates and unusually amenable to the media glare. Can be well prepared. The face of an NFL franchise.

Bucky Brooks: Shadow Sanders

The debate between Shaydur Sanders and Cam Ward will take center stage during the draft season, but the Colorado standout is the clear choice as the QB1 in the 2025 class. The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder is the prototypical franchise quarterback NFL teams have coveted for the past 20 years.

From his classic drop-back playing style, to his unwavering confidence and swagger, to his clutch playmaking ability, Sanders checks the boxes as an elite quarterback prospect. As the son of a Hall of Fame player with a flamboyant personality, he thrived on the biggest and brightest stage after being a four-star recruit with a big-game reputation on Jackson State’s campus.

Sanders displayed franchise quarterback skills, leading JSU to a pair of SWAC championships with a 23-3 overall record, including a perfect mark in conference play. He dazzled with a 68.3% completion rate for 6,983 yards and 70 touchdowns with just 14 interceptions, while adding 157 yards and nine rushing touchdowns. The first-team All-American carved out SWAC defenses with surgical precision, displaying exceptional timing and anticipation on fast-paced throws.

Additionally, Sanders displayed poise, pocket awareness, and diagnostic skills to punish opponents for highly aggressive coverages and blitzes. Although critics questioned his success due to the level of competition, it’s hard to ignore his performance and production as a young player leading his team to championships.

After transferring to Colorado, Sanders silenced the naysayers with productive seasons, causing an outcry in the NFL scouting community. He completed 71.8% of his passes for 7,156 yards with 62 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Improved accuracy, efficiency, and production speak to Sanders’ quick adaptation to Pac-12/Big 12 competition. Given his success against better competition, it’s easy to imagine him flourishing as a pro after a brief adjustment period as a rookie.

Sanders has been too good to fail at the NFL level for too long, especially after playing in a pro-style offense coordinated by a former NFL head coach / offensive playcaller (Pat Shurmur). He enters the league with experience implementing NFL-like concepts, shrinking his learning curve as a rookie. Additionally, he is a four-year starter with 50 collegiate starts (including the 2024 Alamo Bowl), which will accelerate his learning curve.

Considering that Jaden Daniels and Bo Nix crushed it as collegians after making 50-plus starts, Sanders has a chance to stand out as a rookie in the right environment.

While Ward’s arm talent and moxie will appeal to some teams looking for a spark, Sanders’ positioning, pocket awareness and big-game experience give him the nod in the QB1 debate.

RJ Young: It depends on what you’re looking for

yes The answer is yes, you ridiculous football provocateur. Yes, you delinquent draftnik. Yes, you are a dirty soccer fanatic.

This is one of those first world problems that the rich and famous complain about.

Would you rather have a fixer in the pocket as a playmaker (Ward) or a field general (Sanders)? Will you never file taxes again?

Yes, you will, you rude and bigoted gridiron grifter.

Would you rather be the nation’s No. 2 passer in Ward, who threw for 4,123 yards, 36 touchdowns and seven touchdowns, or the nation’s No. 4 passer and single-season record holder at Colorado with 3,926 yards, 35 passing touchdowns. Eight obstacles?

Yes, you will, you keyboard-clacking rebel-rouger.

Do you have a QB who threw passes to a Heisman winner (Sanders) or the most popular receiver in Miami Hurricanes history (Ward)?

Yes, you will, John Mara.

Would you rather have a quarterback in the crucible of Texas high school football who made his name at an FCS school, transitioned to a Power 4 program, and then led that program to a top 25 ranking and a conference was less than playing for. The title this season? It’s Sanders and Ward again.

Yes, you would Jerry Jones.

Do you have a quarterback who has started more than 40 college football games in his career?

Yes, you will mark Davis.

Would you rather have the quarterback who went into the swamp, dropped 41 points and 385 passing yards on the Gators and then turned around and told UF fans they weren’t good enough? Then there is that ward.

Do you have a QB who is coached by one of the greatest football players of all time and one of the greatest athletes in the universe? Who does not know what it is not to be famous. Who knows who to handle it. He has been called “Big” by his father since he was a teenager. Then draft Sanders.

Do you want a chance to enjoy the kind of success and fame that the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders have enjoyed? Then stop debating which one to get and make sure you’re in position to draft one. Then it’s up to you. Then it’s up to your front office to surround them with every available tool to encourage growth, to sell them on the pursuit of where their individual talents can take you.

Do you want the best chance to make your franchise a Super Bowl champion with a single pick?

Then the answer is yes.

Now here’s the hard part: don’t mess it up.

Jason McIntyre is a FOX Sports betting analyst who also writes about the NFL and NBA Draft. Before arriving at FOX, he created The Big Lead website. Follow him on Twitter @Jason Rmcintyre.

Rob Rang is an NFL Draft analyst for FOX Sports. He has been covering the NFL Draft for more than 20 years, with work at FOX, Sports Illustrated, CBSSports.com, USA Today, Yahoo, NFL.com and NFLDraftScout.com, among others. He also works as a scout with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. Follow him on Twitter @RobRang.

RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports and host of the podcast “The Number One College Football Show.” Follow him on @RJ_Young.

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