Cam Ward continues to bathe in the glory of the spotlight! Miami lost their playoff berth when they fell 42-38 in their last regular season game against Syracuse. But that didn’t rob their QB of the deserving credit he just received. But as far as his NFL future is concerned, could his speculated personality get in the way?

Michael Irvin had no idea that he would be making an argument for Cam Ward’s case when he appeared on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on YouTube on December 11. Host Colin Cowherd asked the 3x Super Bowl winner what he thought about people calling the Canes’ QB “edgy” and that “he’s not for everybody.” Momentarily losing focus because of the ridiculous label, Irvin laughed it off and said, “This man has done a hell of a job showing you that he has the ability to do whatever you need him to do in any situation. Big arm, big player, poise, you see some Patrick Mahomes stuff in him too. Nobody ever says that.”

Improvisational plays. That’s one of the things that the Kansas City Chiefs star QB Patrick Mahomes is known for. NFL scouts have also touted Cam Ward for his big plays and ability to lead comebacks, strong arm talent, and flexibility. The Pro Football Hall of Famer added, “If a man’s opinion is only as good as his knowledge based on the subject, take heed what I say to thee over what they say to thee cause they’re just running their radio. That’s all. They don’t know what they’re talking about. This dude’s a great dude, a great leader.”

This season, Cam Ward started all 12 games recording 4,123 yards, 36 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. So it’s not surprising that he made it to the list of the Heisman Trophy finalists revealed on Monday night, making him the first Heisman contender for the Canes since 2002. The other finalists include Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel, Colorado ATH Travis Hunter, and Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty. This is a great foundation for him as a bigger challenge lies ahead with his NFL future pending. 

Cam Ward’s NFL projection 

Following a productive season, Cam Ward was named AP’s Offensive Player of the Year and the ACC Player of the Year. With his stats, he surpassed the records of Bernie Kosar and Steve Walsh in both passing yards and touchdowns in a single season, respectively. He also led the FBS in scoring with 44.2 points per game, so there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft. 

The New York Giants are among the top NFL teams selling his commitment. Their scouts have been present at Miami’s game against Wake Forest too. And the reason why this is interesting is that a former controversial Miami figure made a bold claim. Nevin Shapiro said on the Adam “Pac-Man” Jones Podcast, “I’m being told through reliable sources—Cam Ward is going to the New York Giants—guaranteed—and the University of Miami’s offensive coordinator, Shannon Dawson, is going with him.” 

While we have no idea if this is a genuine revelation, the months ahead will provide us with a clearer picture. But even CBS Sports’ mock draft has Cam Ward at the No. 2 pick going to the Giants. So, we never know!