NASHVILLE – ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. believes Shedeur Sanders is the best quarterback prospect in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Yet in his most recent mock, Kiper has the Titans taking quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick.
On a Wednesday conference call, Kiper explained why while going in-depth discussing the quarterbacks, and the top overall prospects.
Kiper also defended Titans quarterback Will Levis, a second-round pick by Tennessee in the 2023 NFL Draft.
"For me, it's always been Shedeur, but the consensus around league – and I'm not trying to match what the league is doing – the mock is strictly what the NFL may do, and obviously the rankings board I have Shedeur ahead of Cam, just slightly, but most have, that I have spoken to … Cam Ward is the consensus No. 1 quarterback. Why? Because he has a stronger arm and he is more mobile," Kiper said. "When you look at Cam, I think for them, for Tennessee, the arm strength, the angles, all the different arm angles he throws from, the mobility he has – he had 17 rushing touchdowns over the last three years – all that leads to (him being the pick). And, of course, Shedeur us only 6-1½, 212 and he doesn't have explosive arm strength or explosive legs. So, you are talking about a traditional, old-school passer that is going to need help. … For Shedeur, you have to know what you are getting and be happy with an old-school, traditional pocket passer.
"With Cam, he gives you that new wave, where if something is not there, if something breaks down, he can create. So, he'll be that much more creative in that regard."
Kiper also said he still has a belief in Levis, who threw for 2,091 yards and 13 touchdowns with 12 interceptions in 2024.
"With Will Levis, I'm a Will guy," Kiper added. "I understand why people question Will – he made some fatal mistakes in some games. But he's young. It was his first year in this offense, his second year in the NFL, and he played with a shoulder injury midway through, all the way through – he went a five-game stretch against four playoff teams with seven touchdowns and two picks, and I thought played really well in the Vikings game, and the Houston game he led them to that upset, and he had that game against Cincinnati, which was a disaster, when he was benched. … I understand he wasn't (Brian) Callahan's guy. But keep in mind they added two linemen already in free agency, and the receivers have to get better, they had too many drops last year. … I thought Will had to endure a lot of punishment, the offensive line, right tackle, was a turnstile. And I thought some criticism, some of which was fair, some of it was a little harsh. But I understand (Tennessee) going with another quarterback. I get it, you have to get the quarterback right. I don't know what Will is going to be, they don't know what Will is going to be, so I have no problem going with Cam Ward at that point."
Both Ward and Sanders have made pre-draft visits to Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park in recent weeks. Titans officials will attend their Pro Days in the coming weeks.
Ward set the NCAA record with 158 pass touchdown passes in his career at Incarnate Word (two years), Washington State (two years) and the University of Miami (one season). In 2024 with the Hurricanes, Ward threw for 4,313 yards and a school-record 39 touchdown passes en route to being named ACC Player of the Year. Ward won the Davey O'Brien Award (nation's top QB), and he was a finalist for Heisman Trophy (finished 4th in voting).
Sanders threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns at Colorado. In his college career, which included two seasons at Jackson State and two seasons at Colorado, Sanders threw for whopping 134 touchdowns and just 27 interceptions. He was a second-team AP All-American, and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
"You can still win from the pocket," Kiper said, "and I feel that's something Shedeur knows how to do, and he does it very effectively. … And being able to handle pressure and expectation, he does that very well."
While Ward and Sanders were a big topic of conversation at the start of Kiper's conference call, he also made clear he thinks the two "special players" in the upcoming draft are Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter and Colorado receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter.
And, he didn't rule out the possibility of the Titans picking one of them either, while talking trade possibilities.
"Preferably the Titans would love to have a chance here to draft Abdul Carter," Kiper said. "They would love to have a chance to draft Travis Hunter. But I think for them, Carter, an edge rusher, would fit what they would really like to do. That's why I had them going there (in early mocks). They said they wanted a generational talent, they said they wanted to stockpile draft picks. So, do you move off of 1?
"If you move off of 1 to 3 – say the Giants want Cam Ward. You move down to 3, Cam Ward, goes 1, you are guaranteed at 3 Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter – you are guaranteed one of the two. But you don't get the quarterback. I know Brian Callahan had some issues with Will Levis last year, it was pretty obvious. So, you have to get the quarterback at some point. Is there another quarterback they like? Do they like (Louisville's) Tyler Shough? Do they like Jaxson Dart (from Ole Miss)? Jaxson Dart I think is going to be a first-round pick. Tyler Shough could get in the first-round discussion by April 24th, and he's certainly no worse than a second rounder as things look right now.
"I think Tennessee's best-case scenario would have been Carter or Hunter. But since they are not sure about Levis, and I understand you can't be, you have to look at the two quarterbacks. And, do you love one of the two? Evidently, it's now Cam Ward to Tennessee at No.1. … If you believe that, and you feel strongly about that, then I can see why Cam Ward would go 1. But I think in a perfect world they would like to have a quarterback they feel good about that would allow them to get Carter. It would be hard for them to not take Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter. I get that. But in a league where quarterbacks, the most important position in all of sports, if they do love Cam Ward and that arm talent and mobility … Right now, say Cam Ward is going to be the guy, he is going to be protected, hopefully, buy a much better offensive line."
