Rookie QB Cam Ward's steady improvement should give Titans fans hope

What do the numbers say about Cam Ward's trajectory? 

Ward's numbers don't jump off the stat sheet. Through 15 starts, he's 3-12 and has thrown for 13 TD passes and seven interceptions. The former Miami Hurricanes star has also completed 60.2 percent of his passes and posted a 79.1 passer rating; both figures are below the league average.

Splitting Ward's season into two halves gives a better idea of his growth. His first eight games show a rookie QB who's struggling, while his past seven games signal he may be gaining his footing in the NFL. (All stats provided by StatMuse.)  

Ward's gradual improvement is even more impressive considering he did so despite the Titans making an in-season coaching change. Tennessee fired former head coach Brian Callahan and replaced him with interim Mike McCoy after Week 6. 

Pair Ward's arm talent with his ability to navigate unideal circumstances, and that has CBS Sports analyst Nate Burleson wondering what he could do in a better situation. 

"[Ward] has made some of the best throws we've seen all season," the former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver said in a postgame show. "With what I saw this year, I feel like his future is really bright."

Whether the Titans can give Ward the pieces he needs to succeed remains to be seen. They have made a few good decisions since firing former HC Mike Vrabel (now with the New England Patriots) after the 2023 season.

Tennessee, though, has money to spend this offseason. Spotrac estimates the Titans will have $116.5M in cap space, the most in the NFL. That may make the Titans' head-coaching vacancy one of the more coveted jobs in the upcoming hiring cycle. An ascending QB only makes it more appealing.