Espn Star Fires Back At Criticism Over Cam Ward Nfl Draft Coverage

ESPN’s NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. and Miami Hurricanes shot coach Mario Cristobal were successful a warfare of words connected Wednesday complete sum of backmost Cam Ward.

The Tennessee Titans selected nan one-time Heisman Trophy contender pinch nan No. 1 wide prime of nan draught past month. It was nan easiest action nan Titans could person made, and it arguably went under-covered arsenic Shedeur Sanders’ draught descent began arsenic nan Jacksonville Jaguars traded up pinch nan Cleveland Browns to prime Travis Hunter pinch nan No. 2 pick.

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Miami caput coach Mario Cristobal walks disconnected nan section aft an NCAA assemblage shot crippled against Wake Forest connected Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 successful Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Kiper faced disapproval during nan 3 days of nan draught arsenic he harped connected nan astonishment of Sanders’ autumn and moreover had an on-air tiff pinch Rece Davis erstwhile nan Browns yet selected nan backmost successful nan 5th round.

Cristobal said neither he nor violative coordinator Shannon Dawson said to Kiper astir Ward, moreover though he said to a "million people," according to The Action Network.

"Never heard from him," nan coach said. "I don’t deliberation I’ve ever talked to him."

Cristobal added that he was not "disappointed" and would only beryllium if Ward was upset. He expressed assurance that Ward conscionable wanted to perceive his sanction called and get to work.

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ESPN draught expert Mel Kiper Jr. speaks during nan 3rd time of nan NFL Draft connected April 29, 2023 astatine Union Station successful Kansas City, Missouri. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Kiper fired backmost astatine Cristobal.

"Mario Cristobal claims he said to a cardinal group astir Cam Ward, yet nan 1 he didn’t speak to, being me, had Ward classed higher (6th connected my Big Board) than immoderate of nan different draught experts. Interesting isn’t it," he wrote connected X. "And ohio by nan way, I didn’t speak to Deion astir Shedeur either. I request different Orange Crush aft this nonsense."

It was Kiper’s first station connected nan societal media level since April 23, and it appeared Sanders’ autumn still stuck pinch him.

Miami backmost Cam Ward poses aft being chosen by nan Tennessee Titans pinch nan first wide prime during nan first information of nan NFL shot draught connected Thursday, April 24, 2025 successful Green Bay, Wisconsin. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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Ward will apt beryllium nan starting backmost erstwhile nan Titans’ play begins. Tennessee learned it will return connected nan Denver Broncos to statesman nan 2025 play connected Sept. 7.

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