Inside the Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward bond: ‘They want to be the No. 1 draft pick’

DENTON, Texas — The banter between Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward got going early. 

Warming up before their workout at Southern Methodist University earlier this month, they debated who had the faster 40-yard dash time. Then Sanders joked about the quality of footballs that Ward threw at Miami. 

Before long, they were discussing which was the true "generational" prospect.

"Let another word describe you, bro," Sanders said in an interaction captured by Well Off Media, which is run by Deion Sanders Jr., Shedeur's oldest brother. 

"Nah," Ward quipped back, "[That's] the word that describes me."

Sanders surrendered … sort of.

"You generational," Sanders admitted. "I’m legendary." 

But Ward wasn’t done. 

"That’s cool," he said. "You can be legendary. Legendary get they ass whooped. … Generational is once every 100 years." 

All this back and forth — and the two hadn’t even begun throwing. 

"It’s genuine," Select QB Athletics founder Darrell Colbert Jr., who trains both quarterbacks, told FOX Sports about the relationship between Sanders and Ward. "It’s not just because the cameras are out. It’s a relaxed environment, but it’s a competitive environment."

The banter offers a peek into the close relationship they share — a unique one, as they’re the consensus top two quarterback prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. It’s possible that they’ll be the first two players selected. 

After two years at Jackson State, Sanders played his last two college seasons at Colorado, where he ranked first in the FBS in completion rate in 2024 (74.0%). He’s lauded for his pinpoint accuracy and timing. Ward, meanwhile, led the nation in touchdown passes at Miami (39), where he spent his redshirt senior season after two years apiece at Washington State and