INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward, the top quarterback prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft class, said they plan to be solutions and transform respective franchises when asked to state their cases Friday at the scouting combine.
Ward and Sanders were among 15 quarterbacks who met with reporters at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. Neither will participate in throwing drills with other quarterbacks Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Ward is the current betting favorite to be the first quarterback selected -- and possibly the No. 1 overall pick -- in the 2025 NFL Draft, which will be held April 24 to 26 in Green Bay, Wis. Sanders, the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, is a projected Top-5 pick.
"The tape says everything, I believe," Ward said. "I'm honest to that. I think what separates me from everybody is the way I approach it. The mindset that I have going onto the field each and every game. Coming from my journey, not a lot people can do that.
"I just think it shows the work I'm willing to put in, whether I go first round or second round. At the end of the day, the draft pick doesn't mean nothing. It's all about establishing yourself once you get the opportunity."
The Tennessee Titans hold the No. 1 overall pick. Many mock drafts include Ward, Penn State edger rusher Abdul Carter or Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter as the Titans' projected pick.
The Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets are among other teams with Top 7 picks who could select a quarterback.
Ward said he would be a "plug-in and play" option immediately for the Titans. He also spoke highly of the Browns, Raiders, Giants and Jets.
"I think the Jets are not too far off, maybe a couple pieces, and I'm just hoping that I can be one of them," Ward said.
Ward also spoke highly of Sanders, one of his close friends.
"I just think that the work that me and him are willing to put in, the relationship that we have to constantly compete each and every day, to better our craft for ourselves, I think it's going to end up paying off for us in the long run," Ward said.
Ward completed 67.2% of his throws for 3,313 yards and a national-best 39 touchdowns, with just seven interceptions last season. Sanders completed 74% of his throws for 4,134 yards and 37 scores, the second-most in the country. He logged 10 interceptions.
Sanders told reporters "that's the plan," when asked if he could turn around a lackluster franchise.
"If that's not what you're trying to do, don't get me," Sanders said. "If you ain't trying to change the franchise or the culture, don't get me. So, you should know, history repeats itself over and over and over, and I've done it over and over and over. So, it should be no question why an NFL franchise should pick me."
Sanders said he would accept an invitation to visit with the Raiders during the pre-draft process. He also expressed confidence in his ability to bring a new culture to other franchises while answering his critics.
"You think I'm worried about what critics say or what people got to say?" Sanders said. "You know who my dad is? They hated on him, too. It's almost normal.
"Without people hating, it's not normal for us. We like the adversity. We like everything that comes with the name. That's why we are who we are."
Former Ole Miss star Jaxson Dart, Texas' Quinn Ewers, Notre Dame's Riley Leonard, Syracuse's Kyle McCord, Ohio State's Will Howard and Oregon's Dillon Gabriel are among the other top quarterbacks in the class.
Quarterback, wide receiver and running back drills will air at 1 p.m. EST Saturday on NFL Network.
