The Tennessee Titans have the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and head coach Brian Callahan has raised concerns over drafting Cam Ward.
Tennessee Titans May Not Feel Future QB is in the 2025 NFL Draft
We are just weeks away from the NFL Draft, with final player workouts and front offices fine-tuning their draft boards. With the first pick in the draft, the Tennessee Titans may take several directions. Head coach Brian Callahan has offered some insight into their player evaluations and said that Cam Ward may not be their selection.
Last week, AFC coaches met with the media as part of the NFL owners’ meeting, with many turning their attention towards Callahan and the Titans’ possible moves. Ward is the consensus No. 1 quarterback in the draft class, but the teams in the first few selections have so many holes that there is no certainty as to where he may go.
Callahan spoke at length about Ward, saying, “You saw the flashes at Washington State—maybe it’s a talent disparity. I don’t think there is a crazy swing in talent. You saw the flashes. Then, all of a sudden, he gets to Miami, and then you saw it consistently.”
Ward spent two seasons with the Incarnate Ward Cardinals and two years with the Washington State Cougars before playing the 2024 season with the Miami Hurricanes. Year after year, he got better, throwing for 4313 yards, 39 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions for the Hurricanes.
“You see that progression. You see his decision-making become more consistent, you see the accuracy become more consistent throughout his career. It’s been really fun. I think I’ve watched almost every snap he’s played, so it’s been cool to see that real progression” he said.
Tennessee has found it tough to find anyone to nail down the starting quarterback spot. In 2015, they drafted Marcus Mariota with the second overall pick, and after four seasons as the starter, he was demoted behind veteran Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill deputized well in an offense built on a strong offensive line and Derrick Henry as the running back.
In 2022, the Titans drafted Malik Willis in the third round; he is now with the Green Bay Packers. They followed that by picking Will Levis early in the second round of the 2023 draft, and like those before him, he never managed to nail that quarterback spot.
Joel Klatt was on The Herd with Colin Cowherd and mentioned “the element of a gunslinger to him” and how he will take chances with the ball. During his college career, he turned the ball over very little, but we may see more turnovers at the NFL level on one of the weaker teams.
Klatt did say, however, that “that’s part of what makes him special, and he trusts himself. He played at Washington State with a surrounding cast that wasn’t great. When you talk about the evaluation to the next level, he succeeded behind poor offensive lines at the college level.”
The only issue Klatt has with Ward is those perhaps unsightly turnovers that won’t reflect well. Many are very much in on Ward, and he is perhaps a victim of the poor QB class. No one really knows what ceiling there is around him, and there is more hype at other positions.
If he goes to Tennessee, he is in a favorable division and will have time to build for Callahan and the front office to piece together around him. Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are a solid tandem in the backfield, but the wide receiver and tight end rooms are pretty poor outside of Calvin Ridley.
KEEP READING: NFL Draft Rumors: Chase Daniel Believes Miami QB Cam Ward is ‘Right Choice for Titans’ but Not ‘Top Dog’
Reports have suggested the Titans will take a QB if they believe they have found the franchise cornerstone. They still need to meet with Shedeuer Sanders and Travis Hunter for another future-altering draft pick for the Titans.
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