"Go get some Ray Lewis": Mel Kiper sends clear advice to Mario Cristobal while defending Cam Ward's polarising decision

Miami quarterback Cam Ward had a stellar season, finishing the year as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. However, the Hurricanes fell short of their goals at the end of the season, but not because of Ward. Still, he was criticized for sitting out the second half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl against Iowa State, which Miami lost 42–41.

On Thursday's episode of the ESPN show "First Draft," analyst Mel Kiper defended Ward. He talked about how playing the whole game could have negatively impacted the start of Ward's NFL career because he would not have gotten much starting time as a first-year quarterback if he finished this season injured.

Kiper then directed the conversation toward coach Mario Cristobal. He said that if Cristobal wants the Hurricanes to be successful, he needs to recruit more defensive players like Miami alumnus Ray Lewis.

"So, for Cam Ward, he gave them an opportunity, their defense couldn't get it done," Kiper said. (28:00) "They couldn't stop anybody. Bottom line is, go get some Ed Reeds. Go get some Ray Lewis's. Go get some studs on the defensive side of the ball and you'll win some more games.

Cam Ward had a heck of a year. He's still a little recklessness there. There are times where he will miss an open receiver. But the bottom line is his arm talent is obvious. The way he can throw with different angles. The way he can move and sense is there. He's gonna be intriguing."

Cam Ward is projected to go near the top of the 2025 NFL Draft

Cam Ward had a stellar season for the Miami Hurricanes and has seen his draft stock rise significantly, as a result. Most draft experts view Ward as the best quarterback in his class alongside Colorado's Shedeur Sanders. There is no unanimously agreed-upon ranking of the two quarterbacks.

As a top quarterback prospect, most mock drafts project that Ward will get drafted within the first five picks. Some projections even have him as the first overall pick. Where he gets drafted will depend on where the teams that need quarterbacks are drafting. We will not know that until the final week of the NFL season has concluded.

Teams interested in quarterbacks include the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders.