The 2025 NFL Draft date is almost here, and we're officially in the wild comparisons stage. ESPN analyst Kevin Clark made waves on Get Up by dropping Patrick Mahomes' name while discussing Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward . Clark, without hesitation, declared: "As a prospect, [Cam Ward] is the closest thing to Patrick Mahomes since Patrick Mahomes."
Predictably, chaos ensued.
Kevin Clark's Cam Ward-Patrick Mahomes comparison on ESPN sparks strong reactions online
Clark knew exactly what he was doing. Immediately after making the bold statement, fellow analyst Domonique Foxworth looked baffled, causing Clark to acknowledge, "I see your face, Nique." Domonique Foxworth, with a mix of amusement and disbelief, responded:
"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."
Foxworth then hit the main issue head-on, stating clearly that mentioning Mahomes sets incredibly unrealistic expectations:
"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."
Social media reactions mirrored Foxworth's skepticism. Fans immediately recalled the Caleb Williams hype. Williams had similar lofty comparisons heading into his rookie season but faced serious struggles with the Chicago Bears, ultimately resulting in a disastrous 4-13 record and coaching staff firings.
Tennessee Titans might draft Cam Ward first overall, but comparisons to Patrick Mahomes are unfair and dangerous
Cam Ward currently sits as the consensus No. 1 overall pick, projected to head to the Tennessee Titans, who had the league's worst record last season. Tennessee desperately needs a franchise quarterback, something they haven’t seen in years. On paper, Ward is an exciting fit. He's athletic, improvises well, and possesses real upside.
But here's the huge red flag. The Titans franchise is a mess right now. They have a fresh, inexperienced front office that might clash with their existing second-year coaching staff. It's the kind of dysfunctional environment that could doom a talented young quarterback from day one. To even survive such instability, Ward might actually need to play like Patrick Mahomes immediately—something nearly impossible for any rookie.
That's precisely why Kevin Clark's comparison is problematic. It's setting Ward up for public scrutiny, unfair criticism, and potentially a massive letdown. Patrick Mahomes isn't just good; he's already a legendary, Super Bowl-winning, record-breaking quarterback. Comparing a rookie who hasn't yet taken an NFL snap to Mahomes is setting unrealistic standards.
Clark later joked about his statement on X, responding to critics by saying, "I had to beat the allegations after I comped Cam Ward to Mahomes again on @GetUpESPN." But joking or not, the comment has created unrealistic hype and placed unnecessary pressure on Ward.
Read More: Travis Kelce’s laser focus on 2025 season: Why Taylor Swift is stepping back amid NFL comeback drive
Predictably, chaos ensued.
Kevin Clark's Cam Ward-Patrick Mahomes comparison on ESPN sparks strong reactions online
What kind of player could Cam Ward become in the NFL? 👀
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 11, 2025
"As a prospect, [Cam Ward] is the closest thing to Patrick Mahomes since Patrick Mahomes." 😳 pic.twitter.com/2mhXNvdOGW
Clark knew exactly what he was doing. Immediately after making the bold statement, fellow analyst Domonique Foxworth looked baffled, causing Clark to acknowledge, "I see your face, Nique." Domonique Foxworth, with a mix of amusement and disbelief, responded:
"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."
Foxworth then hit the main issue head-on, stating clearly that mentioning Mahomes sets incredibly unrealistic expectations:
"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."
Social media reactions mirrored Foxworth's skepticism. Fans immediately recalled the Caleb Williams hype. Williams had similar lofty comparisons heading into his rookie season but faced serious struggles with the Chicago Bears, ultimately resulting in a disastrous 4-13 record and coaching staff firings.
Tennessee Titans might draft Cam Ward first overall, but comparisons to Patrick Mahomes are unfair and dangerous
Cam Ward is closer to Zach Wilson than he is Patrick Mahomes (and that’s not a compliment) https://t.co/hNaK3j5ta0
— Curt (@curtiss_brown21) April 10, 2025
Cam Ward currently sits as the consensus No. 1 overall pick, projected to head to the Tennessee Titans, who had the league's worst record last season. Tennessee desperately needs a franchise quarterback, something they haven’t seen in years. On paper, Ward is an exciting fit. He's athletic, improvises well, and possesses real upside.
But here's the huge red flag. The Titans franchise is a mess right now. They have a fresh, inexperienced front office that might clash with their existing second-year coaching staff. It's the kind of dysfunctional environment that could doom a talented young quarterback from day one. To even survive such instability, Ward might actually need to play like Patrick Mahomes immediately—something nearly impossible for any rookie.
That's precisely why Kevin Clark's comparison is problematic. It's setting Ward up for public scrutiny, unfair criticism, and potentially a massive letdown. Patrick Mahomes isn't just good; he's already a legendary, Super Bowl-winning, record-breaking quarterback. Comparing a rookie who hasn't yet taken an NFL snap to Mahomes is setting unrealistic standards.
Clark later joked about his statement on X, responding to critics by saying, "I had to beat the allegations after I comped Cam Ward to Mahomes again on @GetUpESPN." But joking or not, the comment has created unrealistic hype and placed unnecessary pressure on Ward.
Read More: Travis Kelce’s laser focus on 2025 season: Why Taylor Swift is stepping back amid NFL comeback drive
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