If you’re surprised, then you haven’t been paying attention!
In a move that should surprise absolutely no one, the Tennessee Titans have selected quarterback Cam Ward out of Miami with the first overall pick. Here’s everything you need to know about the Titans’ newest player.
Stats & Accolades
- 2020-21 (Incarnate Word): Started 6 games during spring season (2,260 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns, four interceptions). Won Jerry Rice Award (top freshman in FCS).
- 2021 (Incarnate Word): Started 13 games (4,648 passing yards, 47 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions). Southland Offensive Player of the Year.
- 2022 (Washington State): Started 13 games (3,231 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, nine interceptions, five rushing touchdowns). Honorable Mention All-Pac-12.
- 2023 (Washington State): Started 12 games (3,732 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, seven interceptions, eight rushing touchdowns). Honorable Mention All-Pac-12.
- 2024 (Miami): Started 13 games (4,313 passing yards, 39 touchdowns, seven interceptions, four rushing touchdowns). First-Team Associated Press All-American. ACC Player of the Year. ACC Offensive Player of the Year. First-Team All-ACC. Won the Davey O’Brien Award (nation’s top quarterback). Finalist for the Heisman Trophy. Set NCAA record with 158 career passing touchdowns.
What the Titans are getting:
Ward is the best quarterback in the draft and he comes with a wealth of experience through his five years of playing with three different programs. He’s a pocket-passer first and foremost, but there’s a good amount of athleticism shown on tape to both navigate and escape shrinking pockets. Ward is comfortable playing hero ball and executing out of structure, but that does come with some drawbacks due to his aggressive play style. He wants to win and win fast, even if the situation calls for a more methodical approach to moving the ball down the field. He’s played a lot of football, but defenses were able to discombobulate him with disguised coverages. Ward ideally lands with a quarterback-friendly offensive coordinator who can ease him into the rigors of the NFL while not entirely taking away his playing style that’s gotten him here in the first place.
Strengths
- As calm as can be in the pocket
- Wants to win from within pocket but still possesses more than adequate athleticism to escape and make plays off-script
- Can make throws from numerous arm angles
- Aggressive attacking down the field, wants to deflate defenses with the big play
- Releases the ball in a flash
- Velocity to sneak balls into near-non-existent windows
Weaknesses
- Needs to learn to take less and live longer than die by the deep ball
- Can be a bit trigger-happy before routes fully develop
- Struggles in red zone, completing just 39 percent of his passes inside the 20-yard line
- Will make the occasional reckless throw across his body, inviting avoidable interceptions
- Side-arm release can carry with it frustrating inconsistencies
Athletic Testing
- Height: 6’1 ½
- Weight: 219 pounds
- 40-yard dash: N/A
- 10-yard split: N/A
- Vertical jump: N/A
- Broad jump: N/A
- 3-cone drill: N/A
- Short shuttle: N/A
- Bench Press: N/A