Drafting a quarterback first overall is a flashy move that gets a franchise a lot of attention. Despite that, there was a healthy debate about whether the Tennessee Titans should have drafted Cam Ward at the top of the 2025 NFL Draft, or if trading down was the right choice.
Ultimately, it came down to whether the Titans wanted Ward or if they wanted to move down two spots in a trade with the New York Giants to select either Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter.
While it would be nice to have the extra draft picks for 2026, the results on the field have been clear. Despite their win total, the Titans were right to pick Ward over Carter and Hunter.
Latest news proves the Titans made the right decision by taking Cam Ward over Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter
With Mike Kafka in charge, the Giants have benched Carter in back-to-back weeks due to commitment issues. He has reportedly been late or missed meetings each week, and this is a troubling trend for a player who didn't log his first NFL sack until December.
While Hunter hasn't been in trouble for missing meetings, he only played seven games before being placed on season-ending IR. There are legitimate questions regarding whether or not Hunter's wiry frame could handle being a two-way player.
This is very disappointing because Hunter's greatest attribute was his durability. He played a massive volume of snaps in college due to playing cornerback and wide receiver at Colorado, but there was always a worry that it would be impossible to duplicate that at the NFL level.
It turns out that so far the critics have been proven right, and all the Jaguars got out of Hunter's first season was 28 receptions and 15 tackles. That isn't exactly the type of playmaker they had hoped for when they traded a future first-round pick (and change) to draft him second overall.
While Ward's career has been up and down so far, he is a leader in the locker room with an unparalleled work ethic. On the field, he is on pace for a 60% completion rate, 3,500 total yards, 12 total touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
Considering the adversity Ward has faced and the lack of support around him, those are encouraging numbers and something to build on. While it isn't a guarantee for future success, it is much more reassuring than a player who continues to get punished for a lack of professionalism and commitment, or a player who failed to make a big splash before missing more than half of the season with an injury.