Current reporting suggests Miami (FL) quarterback Cam Ward has clearly established himself as the best passer in the 2025 draft class. As such, the Titans – who were considered likely to trade down from their No. 1 overall selection not too long ago – are seemingly prepared to make Ward the top pick in next month’s draft.
Of course, Tennessee head coach Brian Callahan is not going to tip his team’s hand at this stage of the process, and new GM Mike Borgonzi recently said all options (including a trade-down) are still on the table (via Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk). Nonetheless, Callahan confirmed – assuming the Titans retain their No. 1 choice – the club will be picking one of a short list of four players.
“I think it’s a short list at No. 1 for sure, it’s all the guys that I think are worthy of it, the ones that everyone talks about out there, and between Travis [Hunter] and Shedeur [Sanders] and [Ward] and Abdul Carter, I think those are, that’s the top of the draft for me,” Callahan recently told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via NFL.com’s Coral Smith).
Callahan added, “[t]here’s going to be a lot of good ones certainly that come after them, but I think those at this moment are the best players in the draft and at the top of it.”
Carter is an elite pass-rushing prospect who has been closely linked to the Browns and their No. 2 overall pick in recent days. Hunter is a rare two-way phenom whom some teams primarily project as a cornerback at the professional level, with other teams valuing him more highly as a wide receiver. Both Carter and Hunter have long been viewed as the top overall talents in the 2025 class, though the fact that Ward and Sanders play quarterback naturally elevates their stock quite a bit.
With the 2025 crop of QBs generally considered a weak one, Borgonzi’s January comments indicating he would not pass on a “generational talent” with the first pick in the draft signaled to many that the Titans – who are not just a quarterback away from contention – would eschew a signal-caller at the top of the draft board and would instead select Carter or Hunter. Ward’s pre-draft ascension and the importance of the quarterback position may have changed the team’s thinking in that regard, though Callahan’s comments – if taken at face value, that is – suggest Carter and Hunter are still in the mix.
It is also notable that Callahan named Sanders as one of the four players worthy of the No. 1 selection. Much has been made about Sanders’ draft stock and the possibility that he might fall out of the first round entirely, as well as the fact that other QB prospects like Jaxson Dart and Tyler Shough may have surpassed him on some team’s boards. Callahan’s remarks support the notion that, notwithstanding the rumors surrounding Sanders’ potential slide, the Colorado product remains an early-first round candidate. Despite the Ward-to-Tennessee momentum, the Titans will host Sanders on a private workout.
“We’re getting closer for sure; all of the processes are moving right along,” Callahan said of his second draft as a head coach. “I would say we have a pretty good feel for what direction we’re headed by early April here, and you put the final touches on it and tie the bow over it by the time you get to the draft.”
Id try to trade that first pick with the Giants. Ask for their 1st, 2nd and next year’s 1st and 2nd.
That’s seems like a huge haul just to move up 2 spots…I don’t pretend to be very knowledgeable but wouldn’t Cam Ward compared to Levis just be a lateral move? I would personally just to build better around Levis if they can get a lot of extra picks.
Ward is definitely a better QB prospect than Levis ever was. Im not sure how you can grade this as a lateral move before one guy even takes an NFL snap. Think of it as youre re-rolling the dice at QB but have a higher chance at hitting where as you already know what you got with Levis
People need to ask themselves, is the team ready to have a new QB? Like, is that the piece that is missing? If it is not, then you trade down. Too many QBs have busted out of the league due to going to crappy situations where a team got them when the team had other glaring holes in their roster.
Ok, but that still doesnt mean Ward is a lateral move compared to Levis.
Also, the Commanders went from sellers at the trade deadline to a playoff team because they were able to plug in a good QB into their crappy situation. Same with Texans and Stroud. Obviously QBs arent everything that influences team success, but it IS a major piece. You can have a great team but no QB and you wont sniff the playoffs. See: Jets’ Zach Wilson era, top 3 defense only amounts to 7 wins if you dont have a QB worth anything
Ppl always say that but a legit QB can change your entire team. See my commanders as an example. If ward is the guy you draft him and move on. All the noise of “your not a QB away” is non sense considering without the your not contending. The #1 pick shouldn’t been seen as we will be here again. Get the QB
I agree but if giants want Ward bad enough they will pony up.
Not for that price they won’t. The #3, #34, plus next year’s 1st (which could be another top 10 pick) and 2nd? Waaay too high to move up two spots. The Giants have a bunch of holes and need picks as well. Trading all of that away hurts their ability to surround Ward with talent.
It’s about the norm these days. I believe they should trade down. They should take the top player on the board who is not a QB with their 1st rounder. They should use these extra picks to build a team. And then They will still probably have a top 5 pick next year when the draft has some much better QB prospects coming out.
Build the team first. Then get your QB next year. At that point they will be in playoff contention 2-3 years from today.
None of these QB’s in this draft are really ones you can build a team around.
Giants signed two veteran QBs in Wilson and Winston
They’re not taking a QB this year they’re hoping to get one next year and hoping it’s Arch Manning
I think if Sanders falls to #3 NY could take him to sit behind Wilson and Winston for a year but I don’t think NY is betting on that happening and are comfortable going into the season with the QB room they currently have. Your right, the Manning kid is clearly on the Giants radar.
Wilson and Winston are just good enough to guarantee you wont be at the very top of the draft to grab the elite next year.
Should be 3-4 1st round QB’s taken in next years draft (maybe 4-5). NY will most likely be in a position to draft one. If it comes down to it NY can trade up next year. However, I would think a Manning is worth 3x 1st round picks just to get the negotiations started so they may not get him, but there are going to be other quality franchise QB’s available imo.
Winston got browns the 2nd overall pick.
lmaooo there is no chance on earth the Giants would pay that ridiculous price. Delusional.
The Titans will take Ward. The Browns should move down from #2 to in the top 10; get LT Campbell and valued extra picks then trade their round 3 pick they got from Detroit for QB Malik Willis of the Packers.
@realex1. Browns will get Carter. Him and myles Garrett will be a scary line.
I want to know what Tommy Callahan thinks about all this.
He’s too busy. He just sold a half a million brake pads.
Fat guy in a little coat.
I’d like to know what the Jets grandkids think of the draft board. Have they released the Madden ratings yet?
The Titans are in rebuild mode though they won’t admit it. They almost have to take Ward. Levis bombed last season and they’ve only signed backup level QBs.
I think the trick is everyone assumes that the way you fix your QB problem is to draft a QB. But success rate is so unpredictable. Zach Wilson was used as an example where a team needed a QB but he was the QB drafted to be the solution. Zach was maybe more highly regarded as a QB prospect than Cam Ward. Will Levis was that as well. He was projected to be a top 5 top 10 pick but slipped maybe because he made videos of himself eating bananas with the skin on them and drinking coffee with mayo. Not so much concerns about arm talent which he has but more leadership. He has the talent but maybe cant be coached into making better decisions. We have seen the upside.
I think when you are looking at fixing the QB problem its easier to do with a known quantity. You can still miss. But drafting a QB can be like throwing darts in the dark. Caleb Williams did not make the Bears a better team last year. He may improve the team but so far no and he was regarded as one of the top 3 QB prospects of the century. Malik Willis 3rd rounder maybe and appeared to be a complete bomb but yeah, looks solid now in the right system with the right coaches. He may be better than Cam Ward will ever be.
Does it raise an eyebrow that Cam began playing for Incarnate Word and noone recognized the talent originally? Maybe but guys have made that situation work. I just see it as Abdul Carter has a much higher floor and has much more of a chance to be a great edge rusher than Cam does of being an excellent QB. I feel like Cam would be more of a capable QB than an elite QB. Teams can have great QBs that are not 1 overall picks so think they can go for a more likely contributor and address QB next year if Will is still looking like not the guy. If Will was not the guy they probably have a terrible record and a shot to pick a better QB prospect than Cam Ward next year.