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Cam Ward was the top player selected in the 2025 NFL Draft after an incredible season at the University of Miami. He, however, was not Mel Kiper’s favorite quarterback.
The draft guru was heard drooling over fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders throughout the event, leading to much criticism from both viewers and colleagues. Hurricanes head football coach Mario Cristobal further threw Kiper under the bus this week.
Sanders and Ward were the favorites to go No. 1 overall at season’s end. They experienced two very different journeys in the pre-draft process.
Cam Ward shot to the top of draft boards due to production and physical traits. Shedeur Sanders, meanwhile, tumbled.
Sanders slid from first round hopeful to Day 3 afterthought. Mel Kiper was astounded by NFL teams’ decisions to consistently pass the signal caller over.
@sportsclipzbyherm Y’all agree with Mel Kipper here? #nfl #draft #shedeursanders #clueless #colorado #browns #fyp #passion ♬ Look At Me! – XXXTENTACION
“It’s disgusting,” he said of the draft fall. “I don’t understand what the heck is going on with this. Fifth player on my board. That’s never happened before in 47 years where a player that high has dropped this far.”
Prior to the 2024 campaign, Mel Kiper called Shedeur Sanders a “guaranteed” high first-round pick. That didn’t happen. Many believed the analyst was trying to save face by doubling and tripling down on his draft grade.
Sports media colleagues ripped Kiper for taking the fall personally. Even co-host Rece Davis chimed in on the air to chastise the squabbling. Cam Ward’s most recent head coach is the latest to take aim.
Mario Cristobal further exposed Mel Kiper’s bias.
Miami’s Mario Cristobal said he spoke “to a million people” about No. 1 NFL draft pick Cam Ward – except one. “I can’t recall many NFL teams or TV people I didn’t speak to.” However, Cristobal & OC Shannon Dawson never spoke w/ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., who was criticized for…
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) May 14, 2025
Cristobal and offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson claim that Kiper never contacted them about the Miami passer. His bias wouldn’t let him!
Kiper has responded to the jab with a post of his own on X.
Mario Cristobal claims he spoke to a million people about Cam Ward, yet the one he didn’t speak to, being me, had Ward ranked higher (6th on my Big Board) than any of the other draft experts. Interesting isn’t it. And oh by the way, I didn’t speak to Deion about Shedeur either. I need another Orange Crush after this nonsense.
-Mel Kiper Jr.
Ward was listed as Kiper’s second-best quarterback and sixth-best player regardless of position in his final NFL Draft projection. He had Sanders listed at No. 5 overall.
Kiper disregarded the pre-draft noise surrounding Sanders’ ego in the interview process. He refused to step off of his initial outlook as others questioned the Colorado signal caller’s on- and off-field abilities.
The analyst took one final stand in his support of Sanders, giving the Browns an A+ grade after securing what he believes is the steal of the draft.
“Defensive tackle Mason Graham was 3rd on my board. He’s strong and moves really well… The Browns also added a lot of draft capital, including a ’26 first-rounder. This is a massive part of why they earned my top grade…
“The other main reason I gave the Browns an A+ shouldn’t be a surprise. They got QB Shedeur Sanders at No. 144.”
-Mel Kiper
Fast forward a few weeks and there are question marks surrounding that class. Mason Graham appeared a bit out of shape in his training camp debut, vomiting on the field during workouts. There have been reports that Sanders is being outplayed by Dillon Gabriel, too.
It’s still much too early to call Kiper’s draft grade on both the Browns and Shedeur Sanders a mistake. His persistence on keeping the quarterback at the top of his board, however, could become one of his coldest takes.