ESPN analyst Field Yates believes quarterback Cam Ward and tight end Elijah Arroyo will be the first two Miami players coming off the board in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. This only reiterates the sentiment Yates has had about Ward and Arroyo. Back in February he believed that both players could be taken in the first round.
We feel really good about two tight ends being first round picks in April.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) February 7, 2025
But could Elijah Arroyo from Miami also go top 32? My guy @MelKiperESPN is a huge fan.
📺: pic.twitter.com/pWJpVRHBts
Yates projects Ward to be selected first overall by the Tennessee Titans. Yates mentions that unless there is a massive trade offer, he fully expects the Titans to hang on to the No. 1 overall pick. The Titans also currently have quarterback Will Levis and the team is ranked 31st in QBR (37.3). Yates also mentions that despite the 2025 QB class not being as deep when compared to years in the past, many agree that Ward is a talented prospect that has set himself apart.
Yates thinks the Denver Broncos will select tight end Elijah Arroyo in the second round. Despite the Broncos' recent signing of Evan Engram, Yates believes adding Arroyo would create one of the NFL's top tight end duos. He highlighted Arroyo's average of 16.9 yards per catch last season as a testament to his big-play potential.
With the 2025 NFL Draft approaching, Ward and Arroyo's performances during pre-draft activities, including the NFL Combine and individual team workouts, have been under the microscope. Arroyo has been nursing a knee injury and his durability is one of the biggest concerns scouts have about him as a player.
For the Hurricanes, the anticipation of seeing two of their stars transition to the NFL is a testament to the program's enduring legacy and commitment to excellence.​ With high-level recruiting classes, a deep NIL fund, and potentially being able to showcase multiple top NFL draft picks, Mario Cristobal should be able to sell the Hurricanes to most recruits.