Hunter has said it is “super important” for him to be the first overall pick but Ward is now the clear favourite to be selected by the Tennessee Titans.
The ex-Miami quarterback has not been described as a generational talent like previous first picks Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence and Caleb Williams were in recent years.
However, he has been compared to Patrick Mahomes for his play-making ability – he can throw from different arm angles and make off-platform plays.
Much will then hinge on what Cleveland and the New York Giants do with the second and third picks, respectively.
They both need a young franchise quarterback but this year’s draft class is perceived to be weak for quarterbacks and both teams signed veterans in free agency, potentially to bridge them over to next year.
Now the Browns and Giants are reportedly open to trading those early picks, external, or they could go for Hunter and pass rusher Abdul Carter before taking a quarterback with a less valuable pick.
Prospects projected to be early picks tend to be invited to the draft and Sanders is not among the 15 who will be attending.
The New Orleans Saints (ninth pick) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (21st) could also be in the market for a starting quarterback.
If Sanders is still on the board after that then fellow quarterbacks Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe and Tyler Shough could all be drafted before him, something no-one thought possible a few months ago.
