ESPN NFL analyst Tim Hasselbeck reveals Miami QB Cam Ward's best trait

The ability for Cam Ward to make others around him better is his best trait according to longtime ESPN football analyst and former Boston College and NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck. Hasselbeck made the comments on SportsCenter on Tuesday. There has been a lot of buzz about Ward ahead of April's NFL Draft.

Ward and Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders and cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter have been the primary players discussed as the potential No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Hunter won the 2024 Heisman Trophy and is an intriguing prospect who can play offense and defense.

Ward finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 2024. Sanders and Ward had similar production in 2024. Ward threw for more yards and had a higher TD-to-interception rate and a better passer rating, but Sanders had a significantly higher completion percentage.

Ward had to take a more difficult path than most players to be considered as the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Before transferring to Miami, Ward spent two seasons at Washington State and before that, two years playing for Incarnate Word, which he led to the playoffs in 2022.

"Cam Ward, I think there's a lot that people are going to like...his story, his path, the grind, the ability to bet on yourself...play through the pressure to...get to the next level...Incarnate Word has been putting up crazy numbers on offense for a long time...to...do it at Washington State...at Miami, when Miami hasn't had good QB play for years...It's not easy...to go play from system to system to system have impact that he had on those teams. That's going to be very attractive to people...The best QB trait that you can have you make people around you better....That's probably the best thing in what you can say about Cam Ward for sure."

Tim Hasselbeck, ESPN

Ward was not ranked as a high school prospect. Playing as a wing-T QB in high school, there was a lot of skepticism about how he would project in college. Incarnate Word and Texas Southern were the only offers Ward had out of high school. Ward chose to play for Eric Morris, where he won the Jerry Rice Award as the best FCS freshman.

Ward eventually transferred to Washington State when Morris became the offensive coordinator for the Cougars. Before transferring to Miami, Ward was projected as a Day 2 or Day 3 2024 NFL Draft pick in a class loaded at QB. The first three 2024 draftees and six of the first 12 were QBs.

In addition to making those around him better, as Hasselbeck pointed out, Ward transferring has proven his ability to adapt to new systems. Coming from the wing-T in high school, Ward had to learn an entirely new system in college. Although Miami and Washington State both run versions of the air raid offense, there were differences.

As Hasselbeck stated, Ward showed his ability to elevate the players around him, as Miami had the top offense nationally in 2024, averaging 43.9 points per game and 537.2 yards per game. Miami improved significantly on offense in 2024 after having inconsistent QB play in 2023.

Ward is expected to be drafted in the Top 3 with the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants all needing QBs. It would be very surprising if Ward falls past the Giants, who released former first-round pick Daniel Jones during the 2024 season. Ward has received frequent praise since transferring to Miami.