Todd McShay has clear answer to whether Cam Ward's NFL draft stock will be affected after his decision to sit out the 2nd half against Iowa State

Since the start of the college football season, Cam Ward has been projected as the first or second quarterback in the 2025 NFL draft. The Hurricanes' star quarterback has been praised for his intelligence, patience, and leadership since arriving in Miami.

However, his decision to sit out the second half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl, a 42-41 loss to Iowa State, on Saturday has ruffled some feathers. While analysts seem displeased with the decision, Todd McShay couldn't be bothered.

The analyst said via his YouTube channel:

"Cam Ward electing to not play in the second half of a game will have zero effect on where he sounds up getting drafted."

He further said that while he's not a fan of what happened, Ward's still a top-tier quarterback pick due to his leadership, dedication and propensity to demand excellence from his teammates.

How did Cam Ward perform against the Iowa State Cyclones?

Cam Ward diced the Cyclones during the first half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl. He put up a stat line of 190 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions, showcasing his pocket awareness and mobility in his brief time on the gridiron.

However, Ward's accuracy left a little to be desired, as he completed just 63.2% of his passes. His 190 passing yards were a season low (albeit for a half), and his 8 rushing yards won't earn him any Cam Newton comparisons.

The 15th-ranked Hurricanes (10-3) capitulated to 18th-ranked Iowa State (11-3) in his absence. Thus, while Ward remains a phenomenal prospect, he'll enter the NFL draft evaluation with losses in his final two games at the collegiate level.

Cam Ward is projected as a top five pick in the 2025 draft

Cam Ward is a consensus early Day 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft. The Miami Hurricanes superstar has the intangibles needed to excel in the league, and he'll be a name to watch out for at the NFL combine.

Athlon Sports has the Tennesee Titans picking him with their first-round draft pick in a mock draft. He could be a ready-made replacement for Will Levis in Tennessee. Ward's calmness under pressure would be a breath of fresh air after a season and a half of Levis as QB1.

CBS Sports has the Cleveland Browns using their first-round pick on Ward. The report pointed out Ward's excellence in all three schools at the collegiate level and how he could be tailor-made for Brian Daboll's team.