The 2025 NFL Draft began tonight as the Tennessee Titans were on the clock with the No. 1 overall pick. They expectedly selected former Miami quarterback Cam Ward.
While I know that this isn't CanesChat, it is a major development from the rival fan base. As we know, Florida State football went an embarrassing 2-10 last season. One of the biggest developments of last offseason was that Cam Ward chose to sign with Miami.
Originally, Ward was thought to enter the NFL Draft, but had second thoughts and decided to drop out of draft consideration and return to college to play for head football coach Mario Cristobal.
The Seminole fan base had its hesitancies with Cristobal's game-management skills and ability to properly develop quarterbacks. Individuals thought that Miami would blow smoke this season. It is usually rinse and repeat as they think they win a championship in the preseason, just to crumble at the end of the year.
One of Florida State's biggest misses was that they decided to bring in former Oregon State and Clemson quarterback transfer DJ Uiagalelei instead of paying up for Ward (who was the better option). Hindsight is something that you can never prepare for, but I wonder how much Ward would have elevated this squad.
Nonetheless, Miami is welcoming in quarterback transfer Carson Beck while Florida State brought in Thomas Castellanos. It looks to be another standoff between the two rival teams. Hopefully, this one goes in favor of the Seminoles.
Unfortunately, having Ward go No. 1, it will be a great recruiting pitch for the Hurricanes. Coach Cristobal excels in his recruiting abilities (not game management, though). Florida State has struggled to develop signal-callers who aren't named Jordan Travis. This one could come back to haunt Coach Norvell.
All he can do now is show that 2024 was an outlier and that 2025 will be much better.