Titans select Cam Ward with No. 1 pick in NFL draft

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The Tennessee Titans selected Miami quarterback Cam Ward No. 1 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Ward finished fourth in Heisman voting after throwing for 4,313 yards, an FBS-best 39 touchdowns, and seven interceptions on 67.2% passing with the Hurricanes in 2024. He led all ACC passers with 9.5 yards per attempt, 14.1 yards per completion, and a 172.2 NCAA passer rating. Ward also added 204 yards and four scores on the ground.

The 6-foot-2, 219-pounder captured ACC Player of the Year, ACC Offensive Player of the Year, and All-American honors after his standout senior season.

Ward, who turns 23 on May 25, transferred to Miami after two seasons with Washington State and one with Incarnate Word. He threw for 11,281 yards, 87 touchdowns, and 23 picks across his three FBS campaigns.

The Titans were in need of a new signal-caller after ranking 26th in total yards (304.2 per game) and passing yards (195.1) in 2024. The club also ranked 27th in scoring with 18.3 points per game. Will Levis, the team's primary starting quarterback in 2024, remains under contract through the 2026 campaign.

Hall of Famer Warren Moon is the only quarterback to post 4,000 passing yards in a season in the franchise's history, throwing for 4,690 in 1991 and 4,689 in 1990. Ryan Tannehill owns the third-best single-season mark with 3,819 in 2020.

Moon said he's "thinking" about letting Ward wear his retired No. 1 with the team. Ward wore the digit with Miami and Washington State.

Ward is the ninth quarterback to be selected first overall over the past 11 drafts. Pass-rushers Travon Walker and Myles Garrett are the only non-quarterbacks to be taken with the No. 1 pick in that span.

Pre-draft profile

Ward is clearly the top quarterback in this class. He's a smooth operator in the run-pass option game, using a quick release and a variety of arm angles to get the ball on his target in a flash. As a drop-back passer, he's demonstrated the ability to work through progressions. His real bread and butter is making things happen when a play breaks down. He can make some truly game-changing plays with his combination of mobility, playmaking instincts, and arm talent to connect on difficult off-platform throws. The gunslinger mentality will probably lead to more turnovers at the next level, and his unconventional improvisational acts against pressure are bound to result in some costly sacks. Similar to Jordan Love, though, the unique big-play upside will go a long way toward compensating for the occasional blunder. Ward has a chance to produce at a Pro Bowl level if he can limit the mistakes.