Cam Ward is less than a month away from potentially becoming the next Joe Burrow.

Or the next overdrafted quarterback taken far too early in the NFL Draft.

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Cam Ward is getting closer to being the top pick of the NFL Draft[/caption]

It’s becoming increasingly likely that Ward will go No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans, who haven’t had a true franchise QB since Steve McNair was on top of Nashville more than 20 years ago.

But questions continue to surround Ward’s pro ceiling, and several draft experts have declared that Ward is a big risk at No. 1.

“He has to play faster,” ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller exclusively told talkSPORT.

“He’s going to have to learn to speed up his process. We saw that with Caleb Williams this past year.

“Some of that, let me stand around and wait and I’ll just throw it to my guy when he gets open — that doesn’t work in the NFL. You have to be able to play on time.

“He certainly has the athletic ability. He has the arm strength. I love the playmaker mentality.

“But it has to get dialed in, has to get reined in a little bit.”

Miller didn’t hesitate when asked if Ward would be the No. 1 overall pick in any other NFL draft.

“I think looking at it historically we would have to go to maybe 2022, when Kenny Pickett was the first quarterback,” Miller said.

“The only time in recent history where I think he (Ward) would be the QB1 in that draft. He’s tough to evaluate.”

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Kenny Pickett was the top QB taken in 2022 but was quickly pushed out of Pittsburgh[/caption]

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Ward has been doubted before and overcome the concerns[/caption]

Pickett was the first quarterback selected in the 2022 NFL Draft, but the 20th overall player off the board.

He’s 15-10 as a starter with a 62.4 completion percentage, 15 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and a 79.3 rating.

But Pickett lost his starting job with Pittsburgh, only played for the Steelers for two seasons, and is now on his third pro team in four years.

Pickett is listed as Cleveland’s backup for Deshaun Watson, who is unlikely to play for the team again.

The Browns are pegged as taking Shedeur Sanders at No. 2 in a recent NFL.com mock draft.

QBs have dominated the top pick in recent years, with Bryce Young, Trevor Lawrence, Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield and Jared Goff going No. 1.

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Jayden Daniels and C.J. Stroud are strong reminders of the value in watching and waiting for the right fit.

NFL Draft expert Simon Clancy also expressed serious reservations about taking Ward at the top of a draft featuring Travis Hunter, Ashton Jeanty, Abdul Carter, Mason Graham, Tyler Warren and Jalon Walker.

The uncertainty surrounding the 2025 draft is highlighted by the boom/bust potential shadowing Ward as April approaches.

“Where my concerns are with him, there is a significant lack of discipline to his game,” Clancy exclusively told talkSPORT.

“He plays with almost a sort of sense of recklessness at times. He puts the ball up for grabs. He throws some sort of funky arm angles, which he doesn’t necessarily need to do.”

The 6ft 2in and 219lb Ward finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting last season, completing 67.2 percent of his passes for 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 172.2 rating.

The 22-year-old from West Columbia, Texas led Miami to a 10-3 record.

But the Hurricanes lost their Bowl game 42-41 to Iowa State and finished No. 18 in the final AP poll.

Even Ward’s final college game was murky.

He threw three TDs but only completed 12 passes and collected 190 yards through the air.

Yet franchise QBs are more valuable than ever in the NFL, and the majority of the league would upgrade the position, if possible.

Ward hinted this week at his pro day that he’s going to Tennessee at No. 1.

“I told them I was solidifying it,” Ward said. “They finally got a chance to see me throw in person, and I’ll get another chance, hopefully, to throw in front of them.

“That’s a good building they have in (Tennessee), a good support staff. I was just happy to be able to throw in front of them for the first time.”

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He finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting in 2024[/caption]

Miller gave credit to Ward for elevating three different programs — the QB bounced from Incarnate Word to Washington State and Miami — and displaying annual improvement.

“I do expect that he’ll be the first quarterback off the board,” Miller said.

“It really feels like everything’s trending in that direction, whether that be the Titans at one, the Browns at two or the (New York) Giants at three.

“I don’t think his night is going to be long once we get to Green Bay, which he’s probably thankful for because it’s probably very, very cold outside and he’s going to be happy to get off the board early.”

Ward could soon be the first name called by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell inside a buzzing Lambeau Field.

As soon as he’s drafted, he’ll be praised — and doubted.

“I’m not worried about no spotlight,” Ward said.

“One time in my life I wasn’t in the spotlight. It’s crazy to see how everything can change.”

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