This is a bit, right?
This has gotta be a bit. At this point, there's really no other explanation for why this keeps happening. To channel my inner Kyle Brandt for a second, the NFL – and its media partners – have gotten a little out of control with the Cam Ward narrative. And obviously I should follow the whole 'just let it play out on the field and don't get caught complainaing about narratives three days after the draft,' routine, but I am nothing if not petty, and we have like 100 months before camp starts. Gotta fill the time somehow.
RELATED: NFL analyst absolutely torches media coverage of Titans' Cam Ward pick in fiery rant
ESPN knows that better than anyone. How else would explain the extremely arbitrary ranking of NFL picks they dropped on Wednesday morning. Ranking all 7 rounds! But only 100 picks! None of the math adds up, but since when has that mattered when those sweet, sweet page views are on the line? I'm just prickly because, apparently, ESPN thinks that the Cam Ward – one that was almost-universally praised as smart – was only the 20th best pick of the draft. Apparently there were almost two dozen better options than a QB prospect widely considered the closest thing to Patrick Mahomes since Patrick Mahomes.
ESPN didn't even have Cam Ward in the best *20* picks of the 2025 NFL Draft
"Even though he was the No. 14 player on my board, Ward was my top quarterback and a valuable pick in a draft that lacked depth at the position. His arm talent, creativity and field vision will help him have early success. The Titans' aggressiveness in zeroing in on Ward and refusing trade offers deserves praise."
Truth be told, I'm just salty and there's no reason to get worked up over something like this. The only reason I even saw this list in the first place is because it's quite literally my job to find things like this. I don't think there's anyone in the world who actually thinks there were 20 better picks than Cam Ward, but ESPN knows to never let the details get in the way of good content.
But if they want to keep giving *Cam Ward* bulletin board material, who am I to stop them? Maybe we should be asking for more of this. Thanks, ESPN?