Cam Ward

Browns, Giants Have Inquired About Trading For No. 1 Pick; Titans Never Considered Sam Darnold, Aaron Rodgers?

April 6th, 2025 at 10:30pm CST by Rory Parks

The Browns and Giants, both still in need of a long-term quarterback despite offseason bridge additions, have inquired about trading up with the Titans to obtain the No. 1 overall pick in this month’s draft, per Jeff Howe of The Athletic (subscription required). We had previously heard Tennessee was fielding calls on that front, and it only makes sense that Cleveland (which presently holds the No. 2 overall pick) and New York (No. 3) would at least see what it would take to make a swap and put themselves in position to land Miami quarterback Cam Ward, the top QB in the 2025 class.

Less than two months ago, many around the league believed the rebuilding Titans would look to trade down, and the Giants were arguably the team most connected to a possible move up the board. The Browns, meanwhile, have been more closely linked to a Kirk Cousins pursuit than a trade for the No. 1 selection, with GM Andrew Berry recently confirming he is unlikely to swing a deal with Tennessee.

Interestingly, Howe says the Titans have not even determined what sort of compensation they would require to move down the board, which further strengthens the prevailing notion that they will select Ward with the top pick. And, contrary to pre-free agency rumors on the matter, Howe says Tennessee never got involved in the Sam Darnold sweepstakes, and he confirms the same is true of Aaron Rodgers. Of course, that represents yet another sign that Ward is Nashville-bound.

Recent reporting has pegged Cleveland as the likely destination for two-way phenom Travis Hunter, and the Giants – who have long been intrigued by Hunter’s collegiate teammate, quarterback Shedeur Sanders – would thus be in position to nab the polarizing passer. That would align with the belief that Big Blue is “praying” Cleveland takes a non-QB like Hunter so that Sanders will fall to No. 3.

On the other hand, New York is said to be “convinced” Cleveland – its professed comfort in having Kenny Pickett assume QB1 duties notwithstanding – will be the team to take Sanders. The Browns did indeed plan a private workout for Sanders, and according to Howe, the Giants will also meet again with the second-generation star prior to the draft.

With Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston having been added to the QB room in free agency, and with Wilson seemingly in the driver’s seat to serve as the starting quarterback regardless of how the draft unfolds, Giants GM Joe Schoen and HC Brian Daboll, who are both clinging to their jobs, may prefer to use the No. 3 pick on a player who can help the team win now rather than a high-upside project like Sanders. To that end, one team picking in the top-10 has told Howe that New York seems to be cooling on the idea of adding a signal-caller with its top draft choice.

Considering the Browns-Hunter connections that have recently emerged — supported by Dianna Russini of The Athletic, who says she no longer believes Cleveland will take a QB (video link) — Howe says if the Giants do not select Sanders with the No. 3 pick, they would likely take Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter (assuming Ward and Hunter are off the board by that time). Carter is seen as one of the draft’s best all-around prospects, and New York is one of the four clubs (along with the Titans, Browns, and Patriots) that secured a visit with him. That said, as our Sam Robinson noted when it became clear the Giants would host Carter, they are the team on Carter’s itinerary that would seemingly need him the least, given the presence of Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Carter is nonetheless a blue chip talent, and if Hunter is gone by the time the Giants are on the clock, and if New York does not believe Sanders represents the best player available at No. 3, there is logic in nabbing the Penn State product. Or, if they feel Carter is not a great fit, the Giants could trade down themselves in an effort to collect more draft capital.

QB Draft Rumors: Titans, Saints, Manning

April 4th, 2025 at 10:13pm CST by Ely Allen

As the 2025 NFL Draft continues to draw nearer and nearer, we continue to see momentum towards the Titans selecting Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick. While the team’s president of football operations, Chad Brinker, spoke recently about the time the team has spent evaluating top options like Ward, Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, he also spoke about a patient, disciplined approach that could entail trading back.

“We are going to go through the whole thing, and I think probably here in two weeks, we’re going to have a good idea of where things are headed,” Brinker told the media, per Titans senior writer/editor Jim Wyatt. “And there’s a chance a team calls, and it makes you stop for a second and think, ‘Hey, we might need to consider this.’ But all of this is a part of being disciplined and being thorough.”

Dianna Russini of The Athletic seemed to imply that there are some in the building who are pushing for the team to trade out of the No. 1 overall spot. Russini, in a recent interview, talked about how those in the building with this view see so many question marks on the roster and so many positions of need. If a team gives them an offer that allows them to cover more ground in repairing what needs to be fixed, they feel as if the team needs to seriously consider that option.

Here are a few other rumors concerning quarterback prospects in the coming draft (and beyond):

In an interview on NFL Network yesterday, Ian Rapoport noted the Saints as a team that could go after a quarterback early in the draft. The team recently restructured Derek Carr‘s contract, ensuring that they wouldn’t be forced to draft a quarterback later this month, but Rapoport posits that New Orleans still needs a quarterback of the future. If necessary, the team could take a passer at ninth overall or trade back later into the first round, if they believe the guy they want will still be there. Notably, Jason La Canfora of The Washington Post told us today that officials from two NFL clubs have “suggested the Saints’ brass is…infatuated with Texas’s Quinn Ewers in the second round.”
La Canfora also cited a scout who believes that Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe is “almost a lock to go in the second round.” Milroe has been making the rounds in the pre-draft process with several teams who have needs at quarterback. La Canfora’s source cited Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson as examples of guys who didn’t necessarily have elite accuracy or passing ability coming out of the draft but, eventually, added those attributes to their natural athleticism. Milroe is viewed as an elite athlete, and if teams believe they can improve on accuracy and passing traits that, at this moment, don’t seem NFL-ready, there’s no reason he can’t hear his name called on Day 1 or 2.
One last thing La Canfora mentioned was that “nearly everyone in the scouting community has opined on the Giants being infatuated with Texas quarterback Arch Manning.” Manning is obviously the nephew of long-time New York franchise passer Eli Manning. The issue with this thought is that they would need to tank in 2025 to be in a position to select Arch, and even then, both Eli and his brother, Peyton Manning, spent four years in college. If Arch follows in his uncles’ footsteps, the Giants would have to tank for two straight seasons in order to have a chance at him. A lot can happen in two years, and given that Manning has only played in 12 collegiate games and made only two starts for the Longhorns, his draft stock could easily change over that time.

Latest On Giants’ QB Situation; Team Convinced Path To Cam Ward Is Closed?

April 2nd, 2025 at 10:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

Assembling an interesting quarterback room by signing Russell Wilson less than a week after bringing in Jameis Winston, the Giants have protected themselves — to a degree — ahead of a draft that would have otherwise featured a glaring need for the team. From a long-term perspective, however, that need remains going into the draft.

The Giants face the prospect of needing a young quarterback in a draft that could see its top two options — neither of which drawing prospect evaluations comparable to the 2024 class’ top arms — gone by the time the team goes on the clock at No. 3 overall. The Giants are “convinced” they will be unable to trade up for Cam Ward, Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano notes, while some internal concerns appear to exist regarding Shedeur Sanders‘ availability.

Ward-Titans ties have strengthened in recent weeks, pointing the Miami prospect to Tennessee at No. 1. The Browns have been closely linked to Abdul Carter at No. 2, keeping the door open for a Giants-Sanders partnership. But Vacchiano adds the Giants “seem convinced” the Browns will take Sanders at 2. Although some around the league are not certain the Giants would even draft the two-year Colorado QB at 3, the team not having the option would create a situation where Wilson does not face a significant challenge for first-string work this season.

Rumblings about Giants interest in moving up to No. 1 surfaced around the Combine, a year after Joe Schoen began an effort to see what it would take to trade from No. 6 to No. 3 — an effort centered around Drake Maye. The Patriots passed on a strong offer, drafting Maye for themselves, and the Giants then punted on Michael Penix, J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix. A year later, Schoen and Brian Daboll are clinging to their jobs. Decision-makers on hot seats — after three years tied to Daniel Jones — have a chance to take a quarterback, but this has long represented a shaky draft to need one. Even Ward has been mentioned as carrying value south of last year’s first-round sextet, and Vacchiano adds Ward might have been the only one of this year’s options who would have been a top-five QB in the 2024 class.

That may reflect Ward’s rising value, but the Giants are in a difficult spot. Sanders is drawing some second-round grades from teams, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets, though that is not a universally held opinion regarding last year’s Division I-FBS completion percentage leader. Still, Sanders has seen significant questions emerge about his landing spot. Though, the second-generation NFL prospect is viewed as unlikely to fall out of the top 10.

For now, the Giants have Wilson set to assume the controls. Wilson received tremendous input into the Broncos’ 2022 offense, a doomed effort overseen by one-and-done HC Nathaniel Hackett, and drew the ire of Sean Payton on a few occasions in 2023. Wilson then clashed with Arthur Smith in Pittsburgh, though the veteran QB was still interested in a second Steelers contract before committing to the Giants on a one-year, $10.5MM deal. Daboll will now attempt to coach the potential Hall of Famer; the fourth-year Giants HC said (via the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy) he watched more than 7,500 Wilson plays to determine if the two could work together.

“He makes good decisions with the football,” Daboll said of Wilson, via The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. “He’s athletic. He’s a little bit older, so maybe not as athletic as ’13, ’14, but certainly has the ability to use his legs, extend plays, create explosive plays, phenomenal deep ball thrower.”

It does sound like Daboll will tweak his offense for Wilson, who received an offer during his mid-March visit, Schoen said (via the Post’s Paul Schwartz). It took 12 more days for the Giants to sign him, as they continued to wait on Aaron Rodgers. Although performance and playing-time incentives can vault the contract value to $21MM, Duggan adds Wilson checks in at barely $11MM on New York’s cap sheet due to the incentives being classified as not likely to be earned.

As could be expected, Schoen said (via NFL.com) the Giants will not rule out drafting a QB at 3. A report that surfaced just before their Wilson signing did indicate an openness to going elsewhere at 3 and circling back to quarterback later. While passing on Sanders would invite significant risk, the Giants would have other options in Jaxson Dart, Quinn Ewers, Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe or Syracuse product Kyle McCord. Dart, however, would likely require the Giants to trade back into Round 1 from their No. 34 spot.

Regardless of the Giants’ plan, Schoen and Daboll will likely enter the season at risk of being fired before year’s end. If they cannot land Sanders — a player some around the league believe the team wants — the power brokers’ fates will largely rest on Wilson, who will turn 37 in November.

If the Giants do end up with Carter or Travis Hunter at 3, internal fears about the next regime reaping the benefits will surely affect this decision, calling into question John Mara‘s decision to stay with Schoen and Daboll after a 3-14 season. Then again, the Giants’ Dave Gettleman regime helped out Schoen’s by acquiring a 2022 first-round pick to move down (in the Justin Fields trade process) in 2021.

Winston is signed for two seasons, but his status could become murky if Sanders arrives. The Giants still guaranteed some of Winston’s 2026 salary; the 11th-year vet’s two-year, $8MM deal calls for a $5.25MM guarantee at signing, Duggan tweets. Elsewhere on the roster, Duggan adds the Greg Van Roten deal is worth $3.8MM ($2.45MM guaranteed at signing). Linebacker Chris Board signed a two-year, $5.7MM deal that features $3.55MM at signing, per Duggan.

Browns Not Expected To Trade Up To No. 1

April 1st, 2025 at 10:02pm CST by Ely Allen

A few weeks ago, we saw Browns defensive end Myles Garrett make an about face on his stance for the team’s chances for contention on their current trajectory. While it hasn’t been said exclusively, one may assume that, in the team’s meetings and negotiations with Garrett, Cleveland gave him some insight into the team’s plans for becoming contenders.

One would also assume that that would indicate some sort of improvement at the quarterback position, but so far, the Browns have exchanged Jameis Winston for Kenny Pickett and watched Deshaun Watson‘s rehab activities stall due to a second Achilles tendon tear that could hold him out for the 2025 NFL season.

One way that Cleveland could improve at the position is by drafting a talented rookie, but at No. 2 overall, the Browns sit just out of reach of the class’s best quarterback, Miami’s Cam Ward, who’s expected to be taken No. 1 overall by the Titans. While one might think it wouldn’t take too much to move up and exchange places with Tennessee, general manager Andrew Berry said at league meetings this week that the team is “unlikely” to trade up for Ward, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

In fact, Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam seemed to indicate that they may not add a quarterback at all, telling the media that they’re “not going to force it,” per Cabot. Instead, Cleveland may address Garrett’s position group by adding Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, who is widely seen as the top prospect in the class. Despite recent news of a stress reaction in Carter’s foot, Berry made it clear that the team is not concerned by the injury, stating that it shouldn’t “be prohibitive to a long, successful career,” per ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi.

By not further addressing the quarterback position, the Browns would be setting themselves up to enter the 2025 NFL season with only Watson — who is questionable to be healthy by that time — and Pickett as options at QB1. That doesn’t seem to worry Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, who told the media today that he believes in Pickett to be the team’s Week 1 starter “if it lands that way.” Over three years with the Steelers and Eagles, Pickett has a 15-10 record as a starter in the NFL with 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

Titans’ Brian Callahan On No. 1 Overall Pick

March 30th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Rory Parks

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.”

Titans Arrange Second Cam Ward Meeting

March 27th, 2025 at 9:33am CST by Sam Robinson

MARCH 27: The Titans’ Ward workout will take place tomorrow, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports. Provided all goes well, the chances of Tennessee retaining the top pick and selecting him will no doubt increase.

MARCH 25: As the Titans appear to be moving closer to starting over at quarterback instead of trading out of No. 1 overall, they will do more research on the player pegged as the top passing prospect in this draft. Another Cam Ward meeting is on tap.

Like the Browns, the Titans will circle back to the Miami QB. Tennessee is arranging a workout with Ward, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The team already used a “30” visit on Ward. The Titans have not slammed the door on trading down, of course, but Schefter reaffirms it will take an “even stronger” package for the team to now move out of the top draft slot.

Tennessee sent plenty of representatives to Ward’s pro day Monday, and this upcoming private workout will give a rearranged front office another chance to evaluate a player who played for three schools during this transfer-happy period. A former recruit at Division I-FCS Incarnate Word, Ward transferred to Washington State and then concluded his career at Miami. Following Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix and Michael Penix in raising his draft stock following a transfer, Ward has been the frontrunner to be the first quarterback selected for months. Creating distance between himself and Shedeur Sanders, Ward has long had support in the Titans’ building, and the team has been deep in QB research for months.

The Titans met with Ward earlier this month and, per veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky, had a contingent dine with the QB Sunday night. Since that point, rumors have circulated pointing the AFC South team to staying at No. 1 and picking Ward. It appears nothing at the 6-foot-2 prospect’s pro day has changed that course, but Titans brass will take another look. Selecting Ward would mean passing on players viewed as safer prospects (Abdul Carter, Travis Hunter), but punting on a QB in this draft would leave the Titans without a long-term plan after a rough Will Levis sophomore outing.

Entering the Combine, the Titans had received calls about No. 1 and were viewed by some as more likely to trade out of the pick than stay. After free agency did not send a starter-level veteran to Tennessee, which swapped out Mason Rudolph for Brandon Allen. The Titans effectively paved a path to Ward at No. 1 in free agency, unless they pivot to Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers. The team has not been linked to Rodgers, and a report suggested it is not interested in Wilson.

Ward’s 39 touchdown passes led Division I-FBS last season, and he paired that total with 4,313 passing yards and seven interceptions. While only 204 rushing yards came along with these numbers, Ward is viewed as having more athletic upside than Sanders. The Titans saw Levis rank last in QBR — by a wide margin — in 2024, and they fired the GM (Ran Carthon) who traded up for the Kentucky prospect in 2023. Chiefs import Mike Borgonzi will run this year’s Titans draft, with heavy input from football ops president Chad Brinker.

Ward did not work out at the Combine but is on track to do so for Titans reps. As it stands, non-Tennessee teams connected to Ward will need to hope the Titans change course and stand down. Regardless, the Browns and Giants will need to do extensive homework on Sanders, whose draft landing spot remains a bit of a mystery.

Browns Conduct Cam Ward Workout

March 26th, 2025 at 10:53am CST by Adam La Rose

MARCH 26: This second meeting is a private workout, according to CanesInSight. Jimmy Haslam joined GM Andrew Berry in being on-hand for the Ward workout Wednesday morning in Coral Gables, Fla., cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot confirms. Kevin Stefanski was also at the Ward workout, Cabot adds.

The Titans have the inside track on Ward and have been increasingly connected to the Miami prospect, having scheduled their own private workout with the potential No. 1 overall pick. Tennessee passing would obviously open the door for Cleveland here, but if the Titans do pass on Ward, they likely will be interested in collecting assets to move down. The Browns are doing their due diligence in the event they do have access to this draft’s highest-rated QB.

MARCH 25: Pro Days are in full swing, and Miami’s took place on Monday. That allowed NFL evaluators to see Cam Ward throw after he elected not to do so at the Combine.

As expected, multiple teams sent a contingent to watch and speak with the consensus top quarterback in the 2025 draft class. That included the Titans, the team which owns the No. 1 pick and is increasingly seen as being likely to retain the selection and use it on Ward. In the event a trade-down move were to take place, though, the Browns and Giants could find themselves in the mix to draft the first-team All-American.

Cleveland sent assistant general manager Glenn Cook to the Hurricanes’ Pro Day, but several other members of the organization are set to speak with Ward shortly. An in-person meeting has been scheduled between the ACC Player of the Year and multiple members of the Browns’ organization later this week in Miami, Zac Jackson and Jeff Howe of The Athletic report (subscription required). The parties have already met once, with Cleveland speaking to the top two quarterback prospects along with Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter prior to free agency.

Set to select second overall, the Browns are among the teams in the market for a long-term quarterback investment this spring. Deshaun Watson is under contract for two more years, although his second Achilles tear leaves his 2025 availability in doubt and his level of play when on the field for Cleveland has required the addition of competition under center anyway. The team has swung a trade for ex-Steelers first-rounder Kenny Pickett, but further moves could be coming in free agency and/or the draft.

Cleveland has been linked to Kirk Cousins based on his history with head coach Kevin Stefanski, but his preference would be for a trade from the Falcons to his next team to take place after April’s draft. Cousins aims to avoid a repeat of last year’s situation where Atlanta drafted his successor shortly after signing him in free agency, so he will look to join a team which does not wind up selecting a passer on Day 1 of the draft. In terms of free agents, the likes of Carson Wentz, Joe Flacco and Russell Wilson are options still on the market for Cleveland.

The Browns have been previously connected to entertaining offers allowing them to move down the board, but it remains to be seen how willing teams will be to trade up in 2025. This year’s class is not seen as having many bluechip prospects, especially at the QB position. That could entice the Titans to stay in place (although they could be open to trading down in a way which still ensured their ability to draft Ward) and likewise keep Cleveland in the No. 2 slot. Much of the Browns’ planning will depend on their evaluation of Ward, a process which will continue in a notable way shortly.

NFL QB Rumors: Rodgers, Wilson, Ward

March 22nd, 2025 at 11:39pm CST by Ely Allen

Yesterday, we saw free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers meet with a Steelers contingent that featured general manager Omar Khan, head coach Mike Tomlin, and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. The presence of all of the team’s top personnel was interesting to see as the three missed Michigan’s pro day to meet with the 41-year-old passer. The top brass in Pittsburgh tends to all be in attendance for big pro days, and the Wolverines are stacked with first round talent like defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, cornerback Will Johnson, and tight end Colston Loveland.

While it may seem like Rodgers leaving without a deal made the meeting unproductive, it appears the meeting wasn’t intended to be about contract negotiations. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Steelers and Rodgers “have had contract parameters in place for weeks.” Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer adds that money discussions are not “expected to get in the way” when it comes to a decision.

The visit was reportedly less about discussions on compensation and more about conversations on fit and Rodgers getting the feel of the Steelers’ leadership and culture. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the six-hour visit was a positive one, and the two sides will remain in touch, though the decision is ultimately in Rodgers’ hands.

Here are a couple other rumors concerning the teams still looking for quarterback help this offseason:

With Pittsburgh pushing all their chips in on Rodgers, it’s become apparent that Russell Wilson has been deemed a backup option for the Steelers, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Wilson is still getting plenty of interest from the Browns and Giants, who despite signing Jameis Winston yesterday, have not been ruled out from signing another veteran passer and/or drafting a rookie quarterback as they begin to rebuild their quarterbacks room from scratch.
Speaking of pro days, Fowler tells us that the Titans will be sending the calvary to Coral Gables for Miami quarterback Cam Ward‘s pro day this Monday. While there has been a lot of momentum for Ward to go No. 1 overall to Nashville, Fowler says that a determination has not yet been made by the Titans. The team still intends to undergo a very thorough determination process, but so far, through interviews at the NFL scouting combine, Ward has acquitted himself well, showing some mistake recognition and coachability to go along with his natural talent.
An interesting note from Fowler adds that, in a perfect world, Tennessee would love to be able to trade back and still land Ward, but there’s worry that he wouldn’t still be around after moving back, perfectly illustrating how position need and importance can inflate a player’s draft stock. Regardless, the sense around the league is that Ward has far and away separated himself from the rest of the quarterbacks in this year’s class.

Titans Moving Toward Cam Ward At No. 1?

March 19th, 2025 at 10:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Nearly six weeks remain until the draft, but the Titans will be the team that shapes it. While connected to heavy trade-down rumors weeks ago, Tennessee may not be as eager to do so coming out of free agency’s first wave.

The Titans let Mason Rudolph walk and have not added true competition for Will Levis; Brandon Allen profiles more as a pure backup. Rather than competition, a true replacement could be coming in the draft. Momentum about a Titans trade-down move has stalled, as ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said (during a recent Dan Patrick Show appearance) teams are now expecting them to stay put and draft Cam Ward at No. 1 overall.

Ward’s Titans interviews have gone well thus far, per Fowler, who labels the team “pretty comfortable” with the well-traveled QB prospect. Moving from Incarnate Word to Washington State to Miami, Ward has gained steam during the pre-draft process. He is viewed as having separated from Shedeur Sanders, with the question at QB being who will be the second one chosen.

Before free agency, Ward supporters existed in Tennessee’s building. Considering how poorly Levis’ second season went, it always loomed as a significant risk for the Titans to pass on using a No. 1 pick on a replacement. Ward has not been viewed on the level as Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter as a pure prospect, which also runs the risk of the Titans choosing the wrong year to make their QB investment. While the Titans would miss out on adding a potential impact starter by passing on their choice of those two, another year of Levis does not seem in the cards for the AFC South team.

Talk of Tennessee wanting to transition away from Levis has emerged, The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson adds. After trading up to No. 33 for Levis in 2023, the Titans sat Ryan Tannehill for the Kentucky prospect midseason. Levis showed some early promise, but turnovers plagued him during a sophomore setback. Levis’ 27.8 QBR was nearly 11 points worse than the next-closest regular last season, sinking the benched QB’s value during an offseason that brought more front office change.

The GM that drafted Levis (Ran Carthon) is out after just two years, and although Chad Brinker was onboard as assistant GM when the Titans made that trade-up, the new team president obviously is not as closely tied to the passer. New GM Mike Borgonzi will also run this draft for Tennessee, which is attempting to find stability after a turbulent few years.

While trade-up calls have emerged, the quarterback market not yet crystalizing — thanks largely to Aaron Rodgers‘ delay — figures to stall at least one team. The Giants were linked to Ward early and have been mentioned as targeting the top pick, but Fowler points to that being a less likely move now that the Titans appear closer to staying put and taking the QB at 1.

Daniel Jeremiah’s third NFL.com mock draft for this year pegs Ward to the Titans at 1, while Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest offering does as well. Ward will follow Jayden Daniels, Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix in seeing a transfer ignite his draft stock. He has already met with the Titans at the Combine and on a “30” visit. It will be unlikely if Tennessee’s decision this year will be as anticlimactic as Chicago’s Caleb Williams call in 2024 was, but rumors are circulating early about Ward being Tennessee’s next QB solution.

2025 QB Draft Race Muddled Behind Ward

March 18th, 2025 at 11:07pm CST by Ely Allen

As the pre-draft process has worn on, some things have become extremely clear while others have become increasingly muddled. After some early competition from Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward has easily established himself as the top passing option in this year’s draft class, and the closer we get to the draft, the clearer that appears to be. What has become muddled is Sanders’ positioning up top with Ward.

Sanders has been experiencing a drop in draft stock following a series of reportedly poor interviews during the NFL Scouting Combine, per Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed of The Athletic. While Sanders still has the experience and talent to be a high draft pick, some have wondered if he could slide out of the first round entirely. Even More have posited that another quarterback may end up surpassing him as QB2 on most draft boards.

Per Jeff Howe, also of The Athletic, Jaxson Dart out of Ole Miss has continuously forced himself into the picture. Dart first established himself as a potential first-rounder with an impressive week at the Senior Bowl. As talk continued at the combine, two teams expressed that they strongly believed Dart would get taken in the top half of the first round.

Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports noted that Louisville’s Tyler Shough is another passer who’s drawn rave reviews during the pre-draft process. Shough has a strong, quick arm and found a way to deliver a 4.64-second 40-yard dash despite a massive 6-foot-5 frame. Though we’re still a ways away from the start of the draft, one personnel director claimed that Shough may have done enough to work his way up into QB3 talk and a potential first-round grade.

While Sanders, Dart, and Shough battle it out for second place, the overwhelming sentiment coming out of the combine was that there is a wide gap between Ward and QB2, which begs the question of which team up top will make a move to draft him. Of course, the Titans hold the No. 1 overall pick, but the Giants have been linked to a possible trade up for that pick.

Giants general manager Joe Schoen was publicly linked to Sanders early and often throughout the college football season, but The Athletic’s Dan Duggan points out that, despite little coverage, Schoen attended three Miami games (one more than Colorado) and went to a Hurricanes practice before the team’s bowl game. The general consensus was that Ward left quite an impression on Schoen and is likely sitting atop the team’s quarterback rankings.

The Raiders are another team rumored to be in the running for Ward and Sanders, and some thought that may have changed with the team’s acquisition of veteran starter Geno Smith. Well, we know that Las Vegas is still very much considered to be in play for a first-round quarterback, but their approach to doing so may have changed. If you’re to buy the predictions of Tafur and Reed above, the Raiders may even trade back with confidence that they could still land Sanders in the middle of the first round.

One team that was recently rumored to be in the hunt for a rookie quarterback, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, is the Cowboys. It seems hard to believe that, with Dak Prescott recently getting his extension, Dallas would spend a quality draft pick on a passer — a sentiment echoed by Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS — but Rapoport, nonetheless, believes that with the loss of key backup Cooper Rush to Baltimore, the team could pick a quarterback in the second or third round.

How early Dallas takes a stab at the quarterback position could very well depend on how quickly Ward, Sanders, Dart, and, potentially, Shough come off the board. If the Sanders, Dart, and Shough all slide a bit, the Cowboys could be tempted to use an earlier pick to secure a rookie backup with a higher ceiling. If Sanders, Dart, and Shough all come off the board fairly early on Day 1, Dallas may be content to wait a bit and select one of the project passers of the draft.

If the latter occurs, there are plenty of options, including Syracuse’s Kyle McCord, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Texas’ Quinn Ewers, and Ohio State’s Will Howard. While all these quarterbacks are held in varying esteems across the league, each team seemingly has a project passer in mind. For instance, Milroe spent today with Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, general manager Omar Khan, and quarterbacks coach Tom Arth ahead of tomorrow’s pro day, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

One thing remains clear: Ward is QB1 and a potential No. 1 overall pick. Behind that, pundits and analysts are muddy on who stands as QBs 2-4, where a team like Dallas could choose a passer, and which teams have which quarterbacks on their radar as potential project picks. We have lots to learn in the next month and a half about the options surrounding the 2025 quarterback draft class.

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