Cam Ward has been the frontrunner to claim the No. 1 pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft ever since he capped off his remarkable season at Miami. Though the Hurricanes didn’t qualify for the new playoff format, Ward’s final college outing was nothing short of electric. In the Pop-Tarts Bowl, he shredded the defense, going 12 of 19 for 190 yards and three touchdowns in the first half alone before taking a breather in the second. Now, after a dazzling performance at Miami’s Pro Day, Ward has boosted his chances of being the top pick for the Tennessee Titans. The 22-year-old’s 2024 numbers – 4,313 passing yards, 39 touchdowns and just seven interceptions – have superstar vibes and landed him among the Heisman finalists.
He’s now on the verge of transforming a Titans franchise that hasn’t had a pick this high since 2015, when they grabbed Marcus Mariota with the No. 2 pick after Jaime Winston. If all goes as expected, Cam Ward could become the 40th quarterback taken first overall in NFL Draft history, out of 96 top selections.
Ward’s Big Gamble: Ditching the Combine for Pro Day Glory
With the draft just weeks away, Ward’s path to the top spot took a bold turn. He opted out of this year’s NFL Combine, shrugging off the chance to throw in Indy with a cool, “Throwing here isn’t going to move the needle”. He argued that his college film already told the full story, and preferred that teams see him strut his stuff at Miami’s Pro Day instead. It’s a move straight out of the playbook of elite QBs like Caleb Williams and C.J. Stroud, who also skipped Combine throws.
The gamble paid off in a big way. On Monday, Ward lit up his pro day, and after nailing a pass, he shared a chat with Titans GM Mike Borgonzi. When asked what he told the exec, Ward dropped a line that reverberated throughout the draft world: “I’m locking down [the No. 1 pick] today. They finally saw me throw live-that’s all they need.”
For a Titans team starving for a franchise quarterback, Ward makes it hard to look elsewhere. Passing on him for a prospect like Abdul-Carter or Heisman winnerTravis Hunter could haunt a team that’s missed the playoffs three years in a row after dominating its division the previous two.
What Ward Could Mean for Tennessee
Grabbing Ward could be a game-changer for the Titans, even if his rookie year might not dazzle given the current roster. His talent, however, is undeniable. He’d join forces with head coach Brian Callahan, an offensive guru who was the coordinator of the Bengals and Joe Burrow in the run to the Super Bowl in 2021, and could polish Ward into a gem. Pro Day was his true coming-out party, but for now, he’s banking on his film – and his swagger – to keep him at the top of the draft.
The Titans, who last went No. 1 with Earl Campbell in 1978, could see Ward as their next Vince Young – a dynamic playmaker to spark a franchise yearning for a rebirth. Plus, there’s history at stake: Ward would be just the third Miami Hurricane to go first overall, following defensive tackle Russell Maryland in 1991 and quarterback Vinny Testaverde in 1987, only the second QB from the U to claim that honor. For Tennessee, it’s a chance to land a cornerstone-and for Ward, a chance to cement his legacy.
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