ESPN NFL analyst Louis Riddick doubles down on Cam Ward comparisons to Chiefs' QB Patrick Mahomes as franchise-changer

In an appearance on 104.5 The Zone's The Buck Reising Show, Riddick explained his position. 

"“Yeah, no, I think from a stylistic standpoint, Cam has a lot of things that look very similar to the way Patrick likes to play the game," said Riddick. "Patrick always described it as being like he's playing baseball, like he's just throwing the ball at first base. And that's why his feet sometimes are parallel. The ball sometimes comes out sidearm, three-quarter sidearm. It's a little unorthodox as far as how quarterback traditionally was played. 

Well, Cam Ward does the same thing. He can do the same types of things. He has very similar arm horsepower to Patrick. He just does. I've seen it up close in person, both of them, so I know. So I'm speaking from experience.”

NFL front office background gives Louis Riddick unique insight into both Cam Ward and Patrick Mahomes

Few people are more qualified to hold an opinion like this one.

Riddick, a ninth-round draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 1991, played seven NFL seasons for San Fran, the Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns and Raiders. The former safety transitioned into personnel evaluation following his on-field career. Riddick started as a pro scout in Washington (2001-04) before being promoted to director of pro personnel, a position he held for three years (2005-07). 

Riddick then joined the Eagles in 2008 as a scout, was named assistant director of pro personnel in 2009, and, finally, promoted to director of pro personnel (2010-13).

Since leaving front office life, Riddick has served as one of the foremost media talent evaluators in a variety of different roles for ESPN. A part of those responsibilities is serving as a game analyst for the network's college football and Monday Night Football broadcasts where Riddick gets up close and personal with the players and their coaches to gain a deeper level of understanding on what makes them tick. Ward and Mahomes have been two such players that Riddick has seen throughout the course of their entire college careers. 

“He's exactly what Tennessee needs," Riddick said. "That's the kind of personality of that position that Tennessee needs. That's the kind of skill set that Tennessee needs to take that offense and really level it up. He comes from a great family, super supportive people, super nice people, and he is just uniquely zeroed in on trying to be the best damn quarterback he can be. And that's it. That's all he cares about.

"Why wouldn't everybody in Tennessee go and put their arms around him and go, just lead us, man. We're going to ride your coattails. That's exactly what you want. And he's built for it. He's just simply built for it. I'm as convicted on this young man in terms of his makeup as any, whether it was Jayden Daniels last year or CJ Stroud the year before. I'm very much so Team Cam Ward.”

The Titans report back for training camp on July 22.