“He’s a stone-cold killer” - Potential Jets GM makes feelings clear on Miami’s Cam Ward

After an impressive season with Miami, Cam Ward is in the running to be selected as the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2025 NFL draft. In this lead-up period, the quarterback now has the support of New York Jets GM candidate, former player, and player personnel veteran Louis Riddick.

Riddick praised Ward on Thursday's "This is Football":

“This dude, he is a stone-cold killer. No question. When you talk about alphas, in-your-face alphas, quarterbacks who are the tip of the spear and want to hold everyone else accountable.”

In his role as an ESPN college football analyst, Riddick spoke with Ward three times during his time in college. He commentated on one of his games while he was a sophomore at Washington State, and two games after he transferred to the Miami Hurricanes this past season. Riddick came away from those conversations very impressed.

“Some of the stories of him and what he did with that football team last spring before Miami played in the fall of 2024. The way he challenged people who were already there, the way he talked to them, the way in which he said I don’t know what you’re used to but it ain’t going to be that way now. This is a guy who hadn’t even taken a snap yet for the team. Legendary.”

Host Kevin Clark then punctuated the segment by claiming that Ward is the QB1 in the upcoming draft, and Riddick agreed. Riddick also said he is one of the two best college players he saw in college this season.

“I’m so impressed with how he was off the field and some of the throws he made, yeah!”

Clark also asked Riddick if teams would get scared by Ward’s confidence in the pocket because it appears unnatural.

“He knows that. He knows he will not be able to get away with some of the nonchalant-ness that he shows. But he’s not doing it to rub people’s faces in it. That’s just him. But he knows some of that is going to have to go by the wayside. (He will have to) be more secure with the ball when he is in the pocket like he did when he got it knocked off by Georgia Tech.”

In his lone season with the Miami Hurricanes, Ward threw for 4,313 and 39 touchdowns. The Hurricanes eventually finished the season with a 10-3 record, narrowly missing out on the 12-team playoffs

Louis Riddick calls Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty “Emmitt Smith with 4.3 speed”

The other player that Riddick thinks is the best player he saw in college football? Boise State running back and Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty:

“Ashton is Emmitt Smith with 4.3 speed. He is a ball of muscle. But he is fluid, flexible, can catch the ball out of the backfield, and can pass protect. Super, super, super kid. Strong as hell. Yeah those two. Cam and Ashton are probably the two very best.”

Louis Riddick is currently being considered by the New York Jets for the vacant general manager role and interviewed with them earlier this month. Riddick’s last executive role was as director of player personnel of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013. He has interviewed for several GM positions in the past five years and it will be interesting to see if he gets the role with the Jets.