Future bust Cam Ward should be thanking his lucky stars Shedeur Sanders has stolen his limelight

One of the most talked about rookie quarterbacks ever will take the field at Huntington Bank Field on Sunday.

No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward will be a mere sideshow.

The NFL has been a steep learning curve for WardCredit: Getty

The Tennessee Titans passer was unfortunate to see his big moment overshadowed by Shedeur Sanders‘ slide into the third day of April’s NFL Draft.

Ward entered college as a zero-star recruit and fought his way to the top via Incarnate Word, Washington State and finally Miami.

It was a true underdog story — one that will be the focus of a new TV series that debuts Saturday — and deserved more attention at the time.

But all anybody wanted to talk about was why the son of Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders — once considered Ward’s rival as the best QB of the Class of ’25 — had not had his name called until the Cleveland Browns were on the clock in the fifth round.

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Ward had some words of wisdom for his fellow rookie in April, which he recalled going into Sunday’s showdown, before confirming that they hadn’t spoken during the season.

“Really everything happens for a reason. God has a plan for myself and has a plan for you,” he said. “At the end of the day, you’ve just got to continue prove yourself right. Every time he steps on the field I know he’s got the opportunity to prove himself right.

“Same goes for me. You’ve just got to continue to stay in the everyday mindset of getting better and not letting bad outcomes dictate the next day.”

Since then, Shedeur’s gradual ascension from fourth-string signal caller to Browns No. 1 has been covered in painstaking detail — right down to a play-by-play breakdown of every practice rep.

Ward’s role in the Titans leading the race for the No. 1 pick in 2026 has flown under the radar.

If the former Hurricanes star was unfortunate to be denied his moment in April, now he should be thanking his lucky stars that Coach Prime’s son was in the same draft class.

While Shedeur — owner of the fifth-best selling NFL jersey of 2025 — has an army of analysts and keyboard warriors ready to leap to his defense, there are legions of critics just waiting to write him off as another late-round QB.

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Shedeur Sanders has a QB rating of 7, which is the worst in the NFL.

He’s barely completed 50 percent of his passes, which is also the worst mark in the NFL.

So what are we even talking about here?

Sanders has been overhyped and overcovered since he was at Colorado, where he never even came close to the College Football Playoff.

Even if he wins a couple games this year, he’s a fifth-round QB on one of the worst teams in the league.

I don’t know why Sanders stans are so obsessed with him.

But at least Cam Ward has a 31.8 QB rating and is better than Geno Smith (barely).

Wake me up when Sanders is competing weekly with Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow.

Then he’ll be worth covering.

Brian T. Smith, Senior US Sports Reporter

Cam Ward vs Shedeur Sanders

Their numbers are similar.

In Week 13, Ward completed 24 of 38 passes for 141 yards and no scores in a 25-3 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Shedeur managed 16 of 25 for 149 yards and a score in a 26-8 defeat at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers.

Over the season, Ward is completing 59.7 of pass attempts with an average yards per attempt of 5.7 for just under 200 yards a game. He has seven touchdowns and six interceptions and a passer rating of 75.2.

On a smaller sample size with just two starts, Shedeur, is completing 50.8% of passes at an average distance of 6.6 yards and is under 200 a game in his two starts. He has two touchdowns and as many picks with a passer rating of 69.4.

Ward, of course, has had more first-team reps.

As for weapons, opponents won’t be casting envious looks at the Browns or Titans’ receiving corps.

In fact, PFF ranked Tennessee’s wideout room ranked 30th going into the season and the Browns dead last.

Despite posting similar numbers in their careers so far, the difference between perception could not be more stark.

Shedeur had been coached by his dad since high schoolCredit: Getty

Ward will inevitably be compared to Shedeur on SundayCredit: Getty

Shedeur is either the biggest bust since JaMarcus Russell or the second coming of Tom Brady and nothing in between.

Ward has existed in a black hole usually reserved for the likes of Mr Irrelevant before Brock Purdy retired the tag.

Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel played every week fully aware that any and every mistake would open the door to a flood of ‘start Shedeur’ takes.

Ward, meanwhile, saw Will Levis ruled out with a season-ending injury and nobody is charting Tennessee No. 2 Brandon Allen’s performances with the scout team.

His 2-8 record as a starter in a journeyman career may have something to do with that, but it is, of course, superior to 1-11 Ward.

Browns favorite against tanking Titans

On Sunday, Shedeur will know the eyes of the world are on him.

Ward may finally be dragged into the spotlight against a fearsome Browns defense.

Both rookies have a tendency to hold onto the ball for too long.

Myles Garrett could hold the NFL sack record before the second round of games kick off.

If Tennessee still hold the No. 1 pick in April, quarterback will very much be on the table and there is a possibility that their current No. 1 follows Levis into obscurity if things don’t improve.

Future bust Cam Ward should be thanking his lucky stars Shedeur Sanders has stolen his limelight

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