Miami QB Cam Ward put on a show at his pro day on Monday. The Browns' top decision-makers and head coach elected not to attend.
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
As pro days go, Cam Ward, the top-ranked quarterback and presumptive No. 1 pick in the April 24 draft, put on a show inside the University of Miami fieldhouse in Coral Gables, FL, on Monday.
The Tennessee Titans, who hold the No. 1 pick, sent the highest-ranking executives in their football operations department to the choreographed workout ... plus their head coach ... plus their offensive coordinator and quarterback coach ... plus their official team Website camera crew and main writer.
The New York Giants, who hold the No. 3 pick, sent their GM, director of player personnel and offensive coordinator.
What about the team holding the No. 2 pick -- the Browns?
They sent assistant GM Glenn Cook, a former Hurricane linebacker and assistant coach, and national scout Chris Buford, per a university official contacted by TheLandOnDemand.
What to make of this seemingly arrogant indifference?
A few points:
1. It’s been Andrew Berry’s philosophy to not attend pro days during his six years as Browns GM. In the past, he has said he and his staff can put their time to better use by staying home to proceed with overall draft meetings and pouring over the video of workouts.
However, Berry has never been in position to pursue the top quarterbacks in a draft before as Browns GM. Given his dubious record in acquiring quarterbacks, (Deshaun Watson, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, et al.) he indicated in January that the Browns might have to alter their scouting methods this year.
One major change was coach Kevin Stefanski joining Berry at the college all-star games for the first time in their six-year partnership.
But other than that, it looks like the Browns haven’t changed much from what has not worked in the past. (See: Definition of insanity.)
2. Berry and Stefanski previously had face-to-face meetings with Ward at the NFL Combine and in a “top 30” visit of Ward in Berea. But the pro day would have been their opportunity to see, feel and hear the ball come of Ward’s hand in person, and to converse with team personnel about Ward ... just in case he became available.
3. The Browns might have intel that agrees with the national perspective that Tennessee has no intention of trading the No. 1 pick or passing on Ward.
That didn’t stop the Giants from attending, however.
The Giants are considered the top team angling to trade up with Tennessee for the No. 1 pick, possibly at the hefty price tag of giving up their 2026 No. 1.
It’s possible that the Browns have concluded Tennessee won’t pass up Ward or its price tag is too high for them.
The show
Ward threw about 60 passes from various angles, under center and in shotgun, bootlegging left and sprinting right, with a heavy emphasis on red zone situations, to his favorite Miami offensive targets – receivers Xavier Restrepo, Sam Brown Jr., and Jacolby George, and tight end Elijah Arroyo.
After completing a 50+ -yard bomb to Restrepo on a broken-play scramble drill, Ward turned to the Tennessee contingent and said, “I’m solidifying it today,” meaning, his place at the top of the draft.
The network analysts agreed.
“I felt [the Titans] probably put the pen down quickly and closed the book,” analyst Bucky Brooks said halfway through the 50-minute workout.
Analyst Brian Baldinger said he was impressed with “how quickly [Ward] can get balanced [to make a throw].”
“He gets his feet underneath him very quickly,” Baldinger said. “And we all know that if the feet aren't set right, just like a basketball player, the ball's not going to go where he wants it to go. And I think one of the reasons why he's accurate on the move is he's very good with his feet.
“And then, you know, his ability to extend plays. [He has] such an instinct in the pocket of where the pressure is coming from, where you can keep your eyes down the field and really trust your instincts. He doesn't have the speed that [Washington rookie-of-the-year QB] Jayden Daniels has, but I feel he's got the same poise that Jayden Daniels has. He's not a big celebrator after [big plays]. Like, he throws it as if he expects it to be completed at a big play as well. But I think the big thing I'm seeing right now, guys, is just his ability … to get balance, to make a throw, regardless of what the drop is.”
Analyst Daniel Jeremiah said, “There’s an urgency he plays with. He throws a firm ball.”
Prime comes clean
After Ward, the presumptive No. 2-ranked quarterback in the draft is Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. Colorado coach Deion Sanders is hoping to make the Colorado pro day on April 4, featuring Shedeur and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, a big event. It will be interesting to see the turnout from the Browns’ contingent at it.
Despite some cryptic pro-Cleveland messages posted on social media by Deion Sanders Jr., and Deion Sr.’s affection for new Browns QB coach Billy Musgrave, it has always been speculated that Coach Prime would prefer his son start his NFL career with the Giants.
Now there’s proof.
At the ProMart 2025 manufacturing and supply chain event in Chicago last week, Deion Sr. was a guest speaker and held a brief Q&A with the audience. He was asked where Shedeur is going to be drafted.
According to a post on X from someone who attended the event, Deion Sr. replied, “We are hoping for New York.”
Meanwhile, the Browns’ veteran quarterback pursuit apparently has been paused. The only healthy quarterback on the Browns’ roster remains Kenny Pickett, who was acquired in trade from the Eagles for a fifth-round draft pick and DTR.
Other pro days scheduled for this week include: Louisville (Tyler Shough) and Texas (Matthew Golden, Kelvin Banks, et al.) on Tuesday, Boise State (Ashton Jeanty) and Ohio State (too many to list) on Wednesday, Notre Dame (Riley Leonard) and Texas A&M (Shemar Stewart) on Thursday, and Penn State (Abdul Carter, Tyler Warren) and Ole Miss (Jaxson Dart, Walter Nolen) on Friday.