Who Will Follow Cam Ward as the Next State Player Drafted?

The chorus of boos that annually trumpet NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s arrival to the draft podium still will be resonating across the Wisconsin countryside when Cam Ward’s name is called next Thursday in Green Bay.

As sure as humidity in Homestead, the Miami quarterback will be the first college player from Florida selected, and likely will be the state’s first No. 1 overall pick since the Bucs took Jameis Winston out of FSU in 2015. Based on the smorgasbord of mock drafts wafting through cyberspace (some more reputable than others), Ward likely will be the lone state player picked in Round 1.

But the second Florida-based player off the board is a bit trickier to project.

Two to three players seem safe bets to be drafted on Day 2 (second and third rounds), while a couple of others have outside shots. In all, we envision 15-18 state players representing four schools (Miami, Florida, FSU, UCF) getting picked over the seven-round affair. We also predict USF’s draft-weekend drought to stretch into its seventh year (No Bull has been drafted since 2018.).

Here’s a day-by-day breakdown of our in-state draft forecast.

Day 1

(Round 1)

QB Cam Ward, Miami

If mock drafts were spaghetti models, they’d all be tracking Ward’s path to run northward, from Coral Gables to Nashville. The Titans are almost certain to take Ward with the No. 1 overall pick, and groom the reigning Davey O’Brien Award winner (and No. 4 Heisman vote-getter) to supplant Will Levis as their starter. While some “analysts” will nit-pick over his pocket management, his torque, arm strength, velocity and seasoning (38 Football Bowl Subdivision starts in the last three years) are too attractive to pass up.

Day 2

(Rounds 2-3)

CB Azareye’h Thomas, FSU

Several mock drafts peg this Seminoles early entry to go somewhere in the second round. Though he had only one interception over the last two seasons, Thomas had 81 tackles and 14 pass breakups in that span, and has been widely lauded for the ball skills and technique he has brandished in pre-draft workouts, including the NFL scouting combine. His 40-yard dash time at FSU’s pro day (4.58 seconds) wasn’t overwhelming, but he possesses NFL-caliber length (6-foot-1 1/2, 196 pounds) and physicality in press coverage.

TE Elijah Arroyo, Miami

After two injury-besieged years (knee), Arroyo had a breakthrough autumn in 2024 (35 catches, 590 yards, seven touchdowns), leading all Football Bowl Subdivision tight ends in yards per catch (16.9). Scouts say his route precision and blocking technique need work, but the soft hands, physical upside (6-5, 250) and willingness to block are undeniable. ESPN draft analyst Fielding Yates ranks Arroyo 47th on his list of the draft’s top 200 overall prospects.