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Slowing my roll on Ward (for now)

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By TD alt,
in Carolina Panthers

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TD alt Grand Master

TD alt

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I've finally done my deep dive on Cam Ward since some Huddlers keep harping on the fact that there's no QB worth taking at the top of the draft (blah blah blah). I get it, but...will that ultimately be true?

Cam Ward's draft stock is undoubtedly on the rise. It just makes sense due to his gradual improvement over his career, and especially due to his play this season. He has not been afraid to move on for better opportunities from Incarnate Word to Wazzu to the U, and all he has done is sieze those opportunities. 

Ward's biggest knock coming into this season was ball security and decision making. Those are two pretty big things, but he has shown growth, and he and his shaky O-line will undoubtedly be tested against the Blue Devils' front.

I will say that if Ward continues to show well for the remainder of the season, including in the playoffs against top competition, his stock will climb even higher, giving credence and outright llegitimacy to his campaign to not only be QB1, but pick number one (or two, three, four, or five). At this point, more than just a few scouts consider him QB1 anyway, and with good cause as his traits are just superior to Shedeur Sanders' and every other QB's in this class. His potential and opportunity will give him an easier path to top five or 10 legitimacy as well (as opposed to just being a default higher pick due to being a QB). 

So, Ward has the elite traits. Can he put them all together by the end of the season (much like Stroud peaked at the right time a couple of seasons ago)? From my perspective, the Panthers and every other franchise-QB needy team will be in a predicament certainly if Ward does show well for the remainder of the season, and maybe even if he doesn't. If you skip him and he ultimately keeps improving and meets the high potential that many experts believe that he has (including Mel Kiper who has Ward [and Sanders] outside his top 10), then you'll look like a fool yet again.

My thing is, are we really in a position to be skipping a guy with that kind of upside, just because he missed top 10 on some scout's---and especially some talking head's big board by a dozen spots (let's say)? Does playing the draft game justify moving down and missing out on an answer that you've needed for the better part of a decade? Perhaps we will see, but we had better be right if we skip him. 

Now, again, if Ward continues to ascend, I believe that we should pick him provided that we have the opportunity. There's just no other QB that has that talent, upside and traits in this draft in my mind. Mind you, I didn't say that no other QB would ultimately succeed, because it's all a crapshoot, but Ward has looked damned good so far this season, and he deserves his accolades as one of the best in the country, irrespective of position (and that includes the Travis Hunters, Tetairoa McMillans and Ashton Jeantys of the world). 

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Martin Grand Master

Martin

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I really like that nothing was ever handed to him, he was a 0 star recruit out of high school and had to earn his way as a starting QB. Not a common path for a QB, and the opposite of many coddled first round QB prospects.

He has everything you’re looking for in terms of physical abilities. To your point, if he finish strong in the playoffs, he will be close to a no brainer at no 1. But we will have to wait to find out.

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Tr3ach Grand Master

Tr3ach

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I'm not sold on him as a #1 pick yet and he's had an easy schedule but if he looks good the rest of the season and shows out in the playoffs then there's no way that he's not a major conversation for #1.  It's just going to be hard for me to justify it until he goes against some really good competition  

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ForJimmy Grand Master

ForJimmy

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Agree with most of this, but I think he actually has a pretty good OL at Miami or they just haven’t played many tough defense. He usually has time. 
I like that he has all the traits you want physically, can make every throw, can buy time with his legs, has started a lot of games for 3 different programs already, but most importantly he looks like a leader in his offense. He rallies his teammates and has had several large comebacks already. Players like that at premium positions are how you change culture IMO. He looks like he is doing just that at Miami. 

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frankw Grand Master

frankw

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1 hour ago, Martin said:

I really like that nothing was ever handed to him, he was a 0 star recruit out of high school and had to earn his way as a starting QB. Not a common path for a QB, and the opposite of many coddled first round QB prospects.

He has everything you’re looking for in terms of physical abilities. To your point, if he finish strong in the playoffs, he will be close to a no brainer at no 1. But we will have to wait to find out.

I could not agree more with your point about seeking someone to lead this franchise who has had to earn their place in the sport from the start. Why this has not been valued by people who are paid well to evaluate talent is beyond me. But the Panthers damn sure better be paying attention to it now.

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