Projection became reality when the Tennessee Titans selected former Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday. It marks a significant moment in franchise history as Ward is the first quarterback the organization has ever selected with the top overall pick, dating back to its Houston Oilers days.
The franchise last used a No. 1 overall pick on Heisman-winning running back and eventual Hall of Famer Earl Campbell in 1978. Of course, the Titans owned the top selection in 2016, but decided to trade the pick to the Los Angeles Rams.
By choosing Ward at No. 1, he immediately becomes the highest-drafted quarterback in franchise history, sitting above Marcus Mariota (No. 2), Steve McNair, and Vince Young (No. 3).
Tennessee Titans believe Cam Ward will become "the guy"
In Ward, Tennessee hopes they are gaining a face-of-the-franchise talent with the on-field capabilities and off-field attitude required to develop into a legitimate superstar.
Nashville is a market beaming with celebrity, but the Titans have lacked a true superstar since parting ways with Derrick Henry, and they haven't had one at quarterback since McNair, who is the legendary quarterback Ward often drew comparisons to throughout the pre-draft process.
In short, Tennessee needs Ward to be the guy, especially with a new state-of-the-art stadium scheduled to open in 2027.
While the Titans vetted Ward thoroughly before making such a sizable investment in him, nobody knows a quarterback better than his wide receivers, who are tasked with catching target after target.
On a mission to familiarize ourselves with Ward in a similar manner, Titan Sized spent the previous few weeks conducting exclusive conversations with his four top receivers from the previous two seasons, fellow 2025 NFL Draft prospects in Xavier Restrepo, Kyle Williams, Samuel Brown Jr., and Jacolby George.
"I call him Houdini"
A Heisman-worthy campaign in 2024 that saw Ward throw for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns helped catapult him from relative obscurity just five years ago to the top overall selection in 2025.
Coming out of high school as a zero-star recruit, Ward accepted his lone scholarship offer to Incarnate Word in 2020, a San Antonio-based program that isn't overly familiar to every college football diehard. From there, he'd work his way to Pullman to play at Washington State before leading the Hurricanes to their first 10-win campaign in nearly a decade.
One thing remained consistent about Ward all the way through. His creative ability to maneuver collapsing pockets with a rare calmness to extend plays and create off-script magic made him a No. 1 overall-worthy quarterback.
Ward's wherewithal to avoid rushers and target his receivers via a variety of creative arm angles to generate explosive off-script plays is what often impressed his receivers the most.
"He’s an extremely exciting quarterback," Williams, who played with Ward at Washington State in 2023, told Titan Sized. "He comes off a little nonchalant, but that’s just a testament to how confident he is in his game and preparation.
I like to call him Houdini. He always makes something out of nothing. It was crazy to watch. There would be times where I was watching him play and I’d be like, 'Oh my goodness.' I really had a front-row seat to this type of stuff."
Williams has an especially unique perspective on the fit between Ward and the Titans. Not only was he one of Ward's most productive teammates, but he also ironically played under current Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz at UNLV in 2022. Williams, who traveled to Nashville on a pre-draft visit, recalls a familiar feeling.
"My visit with Tennessee felt more like a reunion and less like a visit," Williams added. "I caught up with Nick Holz and reflected on our time together at UNLV. Tennessee felt like a great place to me. If I end up being drafted there, I won’t complain."
The Titans have an opportunity to select Williams on Friday or Saturday and reunite him with Ward. He's not the only receiver available throughout the draft who caught passes from Ward. Miami's top draft-eligible trio of receivers from 2024 remain on the board heading into Day 2 in Restrepo, George, and Brown Jr.
"Thank the Lord he touches the ball every play"
All three Miami receivers agreed that Ward's ability to keep his team in a game was arguably his most impressive on-field trait. There was no better example of Ward's in-game calmness than his multiple come-from-behind victories in 2024. It was something that instilled belief in his teammates, even in the unlikeliest of comeback scenarios.
"You'd be in the huddle thanking the Lord he's [Ward] touching the ball every play," Restrepo said. "He's just an absolute game-changer as an athlete. The game never felt over because we had Cam under center."
For every touchdown thrown, every broken sack and manufactured explosive play, it's the natural ability to fill his teammates with confidence and belief that may be Ward's true superhero trait. Physical ability makes Ward a great quarterback prospect. Leadership traits are what make him unique.
"Pushing the right buttons"
"He’s the most unique quarterback I’ve ever played with," Brown Jr. told Titan Sized. "He knows how to demand greatness out of you while still being a respectful teammate. He just knows how to push the right buttons to get the best out of you.
I don’t know how to explain it. It’s like he’s perfected how to pull the right strings. It’s tough to even put into words. I’m just thankful I got to catch balls from him."
As consistently impressed as Williams, Restrepo, Brown Jr., and George were by Ward's on-field prowess, it was that nonchalant approach that managed to push the right buttons in opportune moments that grew their bond closer, his innate ability to go from comedic relief to demanding teammate like a switchboard.
"He's funny and goofy off the field, but when it's time to work, he knows how to handle business and go about things the right way," Williams said.
The Titans met with all four receivers during the pre-draft process, whether at the Senior Bowl, pre-draft visits, or Pro Day circuit. Despite that, they rarely asked Ward’s teammates intimate questions about the quarterback, showing respect to each individual prospect, paired with a quiet confidence in their months-long vetting process, one that included owner Amy Adams Strunk flying her private jet to meet with Ward in person at the team's private workout with him.
“The Titans didn’t ask me about Cam at all during our virtual meeting," George said. "They told me they were interested in me. They didn’t make that meeting about Cam Ward at all. He’s the best quarterback in the draft, though. Of course, they did the right thing by taking him No. 1 overall."
Culture and leadership were recurring themes throughout our conversations. "He’s more than a football player," George added. "They’re gaining a brother, a leader. He’s going to help them win games. It won't be long before he establishes himself as the true leader in their locker room. He’s going to have a positive impact. The Titans will only go up from here.”
"It won't be long before Cam changes the culture in that building," Restrepo added. "His impact on the franchise will be felt forever. From Incarnate Word to Miami, he just knows how to change a culture because he's a contagious guy to be around. I mean, from the janitor to the general manager, they're going to want to be around this guy all the time."
How long it takes Ward's new teammates to view him as a Houdini-like magical figure on the field remains to be determined, but all indications are they'll immediately be impressed with him from a culture-impact and leadership perspective.
The Titans were comfortable making Ward the highest-drafted quarterback in franchise history. Now it's on him to duplicate the feeling captured at Incarnate Word, Washington State, and Miami for a franchise that requires some of that same magic.