Cam Ward is a talented young quarterback. There’s no need to pretend that’s not the case, nor is there any desire to take anything away from his game. For his sake (and that of the Tennessee Titans), we certainly hope Ward turns into a franchise quarterback as he makes the leap to the NFL.

That said, the quarterback comps being cited in the days before the 2025 NFL Draft are completely out of control.

In case you missed the latest draft buzz coming from talking heads and draft analysts, we now turn our attention to Get Up, a show on ESPN that apparently specializes in over-the-top statements and patently absurd takes. That’s because someone had the gall to mention Patrick Mahomes, star quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, as a sort of comparison for Ward.

“As a prospect, he is the closest thing to Patrick Mahomes since Patrick Mahomes,” said Kevin Clark on the latest episode of Get Up, when discussing Ward’s draft profile.

Fortunately, Domonique Foxworth was present to immediately tap the brakes—and Clark even knew he’d stepped in it before he even finished. “I see your face, Nique,” said Clark. That said, Foxworth was proud of his colleague for even being able to make such a stretch in the first place.

“First of all, I’m proud of Kevin. This man has learned how to do TV with the best of them. Bring up Patrick Mahomes’ name, if you can, at any point in the proceedings,” says Foxworth. We have to tip our cap as well here. Fortunately for viewers who might take Clark seriously, Foxworth was there to lay out the issue at hand.

“The problem with making the Patrick Mahomes comparison is, you know what that conjures in our minds. I know Patrick Mahomes, as a prospect, wasn’t a number one overall pick. However, when you start saying that name, we have expectations of being one of the greatest quarterbacks we’ve ever seen. And the improv stuff is awesome.

“Cam Ward does do that. But there are a lot of quarterbacks that did improv in college. And there’s a thin line, I think, between Patrick Mahomes and, like, Will Levis, who also does some improv stuff that doesn’t turn out quite as well. So I think assuming that it’s all going to translate for every single player is wild. But being able to somehow crowbar Patrick Mahomes in the proceedings, I have to salute you, sir. So proud.”

Ward is the widely assumed top pick in the upcoming draft, which would belong to the Titans as the worst team in the National Football League last season. And that’s for good reason—Ward has a pro-ready skill set that should entice former Chiefs exec Mike Borgonzi to select him first overall as the franchise’s savior. But a Mahomes comp? It’s silly.

The truth is that no one compares to Patrick Mahomes because Patrick Mahomes has done what no one else has ever done. He’s won more than any other quarterback. He’s produced more than any other quarterback. To say that any incoming signal caller is Mahomes-esque is to place a ridiculous burden on that player’s shoulders—and it’s all unwarranted for obvious reasons.

Still, it’s the point of talking heads to be heard, and being illogical is one way to do so. It doesn’t make it any less ridiculous.