Analysts say Titans should make shocking Cam Ward NFL Draft decision

It's believed no team will meet the Tennessee Titans' reported asking price for the first pick of the 2025 NFL Draft and that they will ultimately use that asset to acquire Miami's Cam Ward.

For an article published Friday, Scott Dochterman and Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic explained why Tennessee should draft Penn State pass-rusher Abdul Carter or Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter over Ward. 

"I’d draft Carter No. 1," Dochterman wrote. "The Titans gave up the sixth-most rushing yards last season and had the third-fewest sacks. Carter is a day-one starter who would help in both areas. After that, I’d draft QBs Tyler Shough (Louisville), Jalen Milroe (Alabama) or Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss) in Round 2 and eye potential 2026 prospects."

As recently as April 4, ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller mentioned that the 2025 draft class has zero quarterbacks "with a true first-round grade." However, the fact that the Titans made no significant moves in free agency to address their quarterback weakness presumes they're all-in on Ward. 

In a mock draft published on April 8, NFL insider Connor Hughes of SNY noted that "the Titans fell in love with Ward and now want him for themselves." 

Nevertheless, Dochterman explained, "Forcing a quarterback at No. 1 overall can get messy, especially if there is no clear consensus." Meanwhile, Baumgardner suggested that the Titans' roster is not one capable of helping a rookie quarterback develop as a Week 1 starter. 

"This team needs a complete teardown," Baumgardner said of the Titans, "right to the studs. If you start that process with a rookie quarterback — generational prospect or not — it will be very hard on that player and, eventually, on the first-year GM (Mike Borgonzi) who made the pick. ...I’d take the best player on my board. Objectively, Travis Hunter and/or Abdul Carter are going to rank higher than Ward every single time. Start your rebuild with a smaller margin for error. That’s my suggestion."

There's no sign the Titans will follow that advice and then target a second or third-tier quarterback prospect later in the draft. Reaching for a QB during a draft often gets front-office personnel and coaches fired. Still, Borgonzi and Titans head coach Brian Callahan are willing to take a chance on Ward.