Jeremiah says Ward would be “in fifth range” among QBs in 2024 draft class
NFL draft analysts have generally looked down on this year’s quarterback class, saying the top guys are not as good as the ones who were available in the draft a year ago. NFL Network draft insider Daniel Jeremiah put his perspective on that Thursday during a pre-Combine Zoom call with media.
Jeremiah has Cam Ward of Miami as his top quarterback, and said he had Ward “with the same grade as Bo Nix, so that would put him behind the top four for me, so he would be in the fifth range.”
Jeremiah said Shedeur Sanders of Colorado would have been QB7 on his board a season ago.
Jeremiah said that given a choice between the two quarterbacks he would prefer to “chase the up side” provided by Ward. He added that “fit” will be important in how teams evaluate the two quarterbacks.
“I think Shedeur is — when you look at the things he does well, the accuracy, anticipation, toughness, he just keeps getting up after taking a beating,” Jeremiah said.
“But some of the other things that Cam has, [Sanders] doesn’t have, which is just a little bit more twitch in his body. He [Ward] has a more live arm.”
“I think he’s more equipped to play in that division, in that stadium, in that environment that you’re going to get with the weather.”
DJ’s mock
With Ward off the board (No. 2 to the Cleveland Browns) in his recent mock draft, Jeremiah bypassed Sanders for the Giants at No. 3 and selected cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter.
The possibility of Matthew Stafford landing with the Giants via trade was part of Jeremiah’s thinking.
“When I looked at the Giants and you look at head coach and general manager, there’s some pressure there. You need to get this thing going, especially after the team in your division just won the Super Bowl,” Jeremiah said.
“I looked at that, and I’m sitting here thinking, man, you talk about turning around some excitement here in that market, and you trot out there Week 1 and you have Matthew Stafford throwing the ball to Malik Nabers and looking at Travis Hunter on the opposite side of the ball, and who knows what else they can do with the money they have in free agency. And is Cooper Kupp part of that? Is that a package deal with him and Stafford?
“So that was my mind, that was kind of where I was going in my fantasy land as we got to that mock draft.”
‘Depth and quality’ at defensive tackle
Jeremiah believes defensive tackle is one of the positions in this draft class with “real, real depth.”
“I think you might look at going another position early knowing you can circle back and still get a really talented player,” Jeremiah said.
This is good news for the Giants, who need to find help for Dexter Lawrence on their interior defensive line.
Speaking of Lawrence, Jeremiah dropped Lawrence’s name in discussing Michigan’s Kenneth Grant.
“Just massive. He’s a people mover. Talking to the folks where he has been doing a lot of his training, at 340 pounds he should not be able to move around like that,” Jeremiah said. “You’re hoping and dreaming on this Dexter Lawrence type ascension for him once he gets to the NFL. Hasn’t put it all together, but it’s all in there.”
