Mel Kiper Jr. apparently didn’t feel the need to check in with the coach who may know Cam Ward best.
Miami head coach Mario Cristobal revealed he did not hear from ESPN’s draft guru leading into the 2025 NFL Draft despite Ward ultimately being the No. 1 pick.
Kiper made it clear throughout the draft he rated Shedeur Sanders as his No. 1 quarterback in the class.
“Never heard from him,” Cristobal said Wednesday at the ACC spring meetings, according to Action Network. “I don’t think I ever talked to him.”
Cristobal reportedly estimated he spoke with “a million people” regarding Ward, noting how “I can’t recall many NFL teams or TV people I didn’t speak to.”
Kiper’s absence, though, is notable considering the criticism he drew for his remarks throughout the draft.
The longtime draft expert focused so much on Sanders’ fall to the fifth round that many commented how it seemed every other quarterback, including Ward, seemed to be overlooked.
Even when the Giants traded up to draft Jaxson Dart with the No. 25 pick, Kiper instead focused on how they passed on Sanders.
“Cam Ward has been ignored for weeks, and now that he’s about to be drafted, Mel Kiper is talking about Shedeur Sanders???” the Pro Football Talk X account posted the night of the draft.
Ward and Sanders ultimately had 143 picks between their selections and they are in much different situations now that their careers are begining.
The Titans have turned their franchise over to Ward, while Sanders is in a four-or-five quarterback battle (depending on the health of incumbent starter Deshaun Watson) in Cleveland.
Cristobal said that Kiper’s attitude toward Ward did not disappoint him.
“The only reason I would be disappointed, was if Cam was,” Cristobal said, per Action Network, “but knowing Cam, he just wanted to hear the name and exactly where he was going and get to work.”
