Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward. Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

NFL Draft countdown: Focus on Titans' first-round pick at No. 1

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated Apr 23, 2025 9:35 AM ET

For the first time in franchise history, the Tennessee Titans own the first selection in the NFL Draft and barring a last-minute trade, Cam Ward will almost certainly be the pick. So what should Tennessee expect from the former Miami quarterback?

Ward threw for 6,968 yards and 48 touchdowns in two years with Washington State and set single-season marks for touchdowns (39), yards (4,313) and completion percentage (67.2) with the Hurricanes last season.

Prior to that, Ward spent two years at the University of the Incarnate Word, a FCS program where he set career records in passing yards (6,908) and touchdowns (71) while establishing single-game records of 610 yards and seven scores.

At 6-foot-2 and 223 pounds, Ward is essentially the same size as Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders but has a much stronger arm. In fact, Mike Akridge of Pro Football Focus believes Ward has one of the best arms in college football.

“He’s able to produce an incredible amount of velocity in each throw,” Akridge says, “allowing him to fit the ball into tight windows.”

Cam Ward put on a show at @CanesFootball Pro Day pic.twitter.com/iCfU7UiHLt
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) March 24, 2025

More importantly, Ward throws with anticipation.

“He quickly understands the looks defenses are giving him and plays on time,” Akridge writes, “which led to him having the highest clean pocket PFF grade among draft-eligible quarterbacks.”

Ward didn’t throw at the NFL Scouting Combine but impressed at Miami’s pro day with several off-platform and cross-body throws, something second-year head coach Brian Callahan knows all about.

Callahan was offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals when the team took LSU quarterback Joe Burrow first-overall in 2020. Like Ward, Burrow came to the NFL with a gunslinger’s mentality, constantly looking to extend plays while throwing 37 interceptions in 52 games under Callahan.

Count NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein among those concerned with Ward’s decision making and penchant for holding the ball.

“Pocket mobility helps him extend and make plays out of structure, but the longer he’s off-schedule, the spottier his decision-making can get. He is fairly consistent regardless of the coverage scheme he sees, but figuring out disguised coverage on the pro level will take time, and it is not a given he will develop that skill.”

That said, Ward’s arrival in Tennessee appears to be a given. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Titans’ general manager Mike Borgonzi turned down the New York Giants’ efforts to trade up to No. 1 and Ward now has -20,000 odds to be the No. 1 pick on Draftkings Sportsbook.

The 2025 NFL Draft is scheduled to begin on Thursday, April 24th at 8 p.m. ET in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Bruce Ewing

Bruce Ewing is 183 pounds of twisted steel and Happy Meals. His work has appeared on Yardbarker, 5th Down Fantasy, Inside the Iggles and MSN. Give a Philly fan a break and follow him on X at @fantasybruce.

More must-reads: