Welcome to Nashville, Cam Ward?
We’re on the Eve of the 2025 NFL Draft. All signs point to the Titans drafting Miami QB Cam Ward with the first overall pick tomorrow night.
Despite initial reports of interest in Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Penn State’s Abdul Carter, sources indicate general manager Mike Borgonzi and head coach Brian Callahan view Ward as the solution to Tennessee’s rebuild.
You can view the Titans pre-draft press conference here:
Ward’s 2024 performance at Miami underscores his potential: 4,313 passing yards, 39 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions, with a 67.2% completion rate. He led the FBS in touchdown passes and tied for the most passes of 20+ yards (74), showcasing elite arm strength and deep-ball accuracy. He added an additional 374 yards on the ground with 5 rushing touchdowns.
Strengths: Ward possesses almost top-tier arm strength & velocity that allows him to fit the ball into tight windows. He is an elite-level playmaker especially when things break down. According to PFF, when Ward had 3 or more seconds to throw, his passing grade ranked seventh in the FBS and he made the second-most big-time throws. While he had the fifth-most dropbacks with a time to throw over 3 seconds, he took only 13 sacks on those plays. He has also shown the ability to be productive in the middle of the field. Ward earned a 95.1 PFF passing grade on throws in between the NFL numbers in 2024, the highest in the entire FBS.
Weaknesses: His occasional overreliance on big plays results in risky decisions, and inconsistent footwork could exacerbate turnover issues against professional secondaries. He tends to drift in the pocket unnecessarily, which shuts down the far side of the field and puts more strain on his linemen. He also plays in what sometimes seems like a nonchalant fashion. In the NFL, he will need to play with much more of a sense of urgency.
Speaking of urgency. Tennessee’s quarterback situation demands urgent attention. Will Levis, the Titans 2023 second-round pick, posted a 2-10 record in 2024 starts, with 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The Titans’ offense ranked 26th in scoring (18.1 points per game), hampered by costly turnovers and protection issues. Ward’s skill set, particularly his ability to stretch the field vertically, complements receivers like Calvin Ridley and could mask some of the Titans protection issues.
While Sanders’ polished mechanics appealed to some in the organization, Ward’s higher ceiling as a playmaker tipped the scales. If Ward adapts swiftly to the NFL, Tennessee could secure a cornerstone quarterback, addressing a critical roster gap and positioning the franchise for long-term success.
Vols Recruiting Roundup
Basketball: Coach Rick Barnes was reported to have had a Zoom call with Darius Adams, the recent UConn decommit. The 6-foot-4, 170-pound Adams is ranked No. 18 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s the No. 7 shooting guard in the class and the No. 2 overall player in the state of Indiana.
As several of the Vols portal targets committed elsewhere, it has become imperative that Tennessee look to add some quality guards to next year’s roster.
Football: Savion Hiter, the #1 RB in the Class of 2026, recently completed a visit to Knoxville. The Vols are one of four remaining schools in Hiter’s recruitment including Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio State.
Ohio State is rumored to be the favorite, but Tennessee is scheduled to have Hiter’s last official visit this summer on June 20th. Josh Heupel already has one of the top QB prospects in the Class of 2026 committed to Tennessee in Faizon Brandon. If the Vols were to land Hiter, they would most likely have one of the best offensive recruiting classes in the country.