A prospect watch for the Las Vegas Raiders’ 2023 NFL Draft experience has commenced. When it comes to potential quarterback prospects, the obvious suspects like Kentucky’s Will Levis, Ohio State’s CJ Stroud, and current Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young come to mind. But there is one Pac-12 talent who isn’t named Caleb Williams that demands your attention.
Raiders 2023 NFL Draft Prospect Watch: QB Cameron Ward
Cameron Ward is a 6-foot-3, 220-pound quarterback who set records as a transfer from Incarnate Word before joining his former head coach Eric Morris at Washington State. Prior to going to the FBS, he passed for 4,648 yards, 47 touchdowns, and ten interceptions at Incarnate Word.
With jaw-dropping plays demonstrating his big arm skill and ability to keep plays alive, he lit up the college football world. When he declared his intention to move, he quickly became one of the most sought-after players on the transfer portal, and it’s easy to see why: he had offers from Power 5 schools like Ole Miss before deciding on Washington State.
Now that he’s in a competitive conference like the Pac-12, viewers can see just how talented he is; he’s passed for 1,445 yards, 16 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He has time to improve on these numbers because it is still early in the season.
Strengths
Cam Ward. Sir. Have mercy. 😳 pic.twitter.com/JiZsSaE0tT
— Kyle Crabbs (@GrindingTheTape) October 1, 2022
Because of his height, Ward already has excellent size for the quarterback position, so that’s not a concern. Some of his other strengths include the ability to make quick reads, find an open receiver, and keep the play alive if the play breaks down, resulting in favorable yardage.
He also has no trouble escaping defenders due to his quickness, as he is more than just a pocket quarterback who can hurt you with his legs and make teams pay for not putting a spy on him.
Lastly, his strongest point is that he has an arm like a cannon. He can throw the ball deep, he is very accurate, and there is no throw he can’t make. As of right now, Ward is ninth in his conference for both passing yards per attempt and pass completion percentage (63.2).
Weaknesses
Interceptions are one of his negative attributes. While he doesn’t throw many of them, it’s something that needs to be addressed. Could the interceptions be the result of adjusting to a completely new system or simply the level of competition he now faces? In any case, turnovers are something that may be improved over time. Another one of his flaws was his tendency to hold the ball for a little too long at times. That forces him to scramble, take a sack, or he’ll simply throw the ball away.
- Draft Grade: Late Day 2 or Early Day 3
- Teams Of Need: Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings, and Las Vegas Raiders
Draft Comparison
- Ceiling: David Garrard
- Floor: Tyrod Taylor
The Raiders’ Defensive Line Needs To Build Off Of Week 5 Effort
*Top Photo: YouTube Channel: Equable Rogue