Four reasons why Cam Ward to the Titans could go horribly wrong

With the 2025 NFL Draft's first round a little over 24 hours away, all signs point toward the Titans, who own the No. 1 overall pick, choosing Miami quarterback Cam Ward.

That could be a mistake.

While the Titans will celebrate landing a potential franchise cornerstone, Ward is by no means a perfect fit. Here are four reasons why the pick could go horribly wrong.

1. Lack of receivers

If (or when) Ward is selected at No. 1, he'll inherit an offense light of top-flight offensive weapons. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley is Ward's best option, but the Titans lack meaningful depth behind him. 

The team's two other top wideouts from a season ago — Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Tyler Boyd — aren't in the team's 2025 plans, with Boyd a free agent and Westbrook-Ikhine signing with the Dolphins in March.

Tennessee added wideout Van Jefferson, who had 24 receptions, 276 yards and two touchdowns last season, in free agency. He could have a significant role in the offense, as could 2022 first-round pick (No. 18 overall) Treylon Burks, coming off a Week 6 season-ending ACL tear and with 699 career receiving yards in his first three seasons (27 games).

Tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo is coming off his worst season, averaging 9.2 yards on 52 receptions in 2024. Per NFL Pro, he averaged minus-0.2 expected points added (EPA) per target, tied with Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson for the worst EPA per target among 34 qualifying tight ends.

At Miami, playing alongside wide receiver Xavier Restrepo, running back Damien Martinez, tight end Elijah Arroyo and a quality offensive line, Ward was set up for success. Those guardrails aren't in place in Tennessee.

2. Offensive line uncertainty

During the offseason, the Titans signed left tackle Dan Moore Jr. Per Pro Football Focus, he led the Steelers in sacks allowed last season (12). He also had a team-high 5.2 percent blown block rate in pass situations. (h/t Sports Info Solutions)

His signing shifts 2024 first-round pick J.C. Latham to right tackle after he struggled as a rookie protecting quarterback Will Levis' blind side. Left guard Peter Skoronski, a 2023 first-round pick, has fared better as a pass-blocker but has struggled when run blocking.

Center Lloyd Cushenberry II signed a four-year, $50 million contract as a 2024 free agent and suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 9. He was inconsistent when healthy, allowing as many total pressures in 279 pass-block opportunities (14) as in 601 opportunities in 2023.

Signing 13-year veteran right guard Kevin Zeitler was a much wiser decision, but the 2023 Pro Bowler, 35, is likely nearing the end of his playing career. Tennessee will need to address the position again via the draft or free agency in the near future.

3. Coaching/front office

Tennessee is on its third general manager in four seasons following Ran Carthon's firing after just two seasons. The Titans are in an awkward position of having a general manager, Mike Borgonzi, who didn't hire the head coach, creating a potentially combustible situation with Brian Callahan, hired in January 2024.

After failing to develop 2024 starter Will Levis, it's fair to wonder if Callahan is the right coach to usher Ward into the NFL. If Tennessee, which went 3-14 last season, struggles again this fall, Callahan will likely be on the hot seat. There's a realistic scenario where Ward is on his second coach and learning his second offensive system next offseason, which would be detrimental to his growth.

4. Ward is a reach at No. 1

Despite being the consensus No. 1 pick for months, no one has placed Ward in the upper tier of 2025 NFL Draft prospects. The Titans aren't a quarterback away from contending, and Ward will have a fraction of the quality of the talent he had at Miami.

On Tuesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter wrote that one NFL general manager said Ward would have been the seventh-best quarterback in 2024, when six quarterbacks were taken in the first 12 picks.