While Cam Ward was staking his claim toward the Tennessee Titans‘ receiving group as a top-five WR unit in the NFL, FOX Sports radio host Colin Cowherd was, without knowing it, taking the opposite stance.
Talking about the Titans on his Aug. 13 show at about the same time as Ward was speaking to the media during joint practices with the Atlanta Falcons in Georgia, Cowherd talked about how down he is on the Titans’ offensive personnel surrounding the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 draft.
“It’s like that show ‘Chopped,’ when you give a chef a basket and it’s got bok choy, a sweet potato, Skittles, some octopus and some red licorice and you’re like, ‘Hey, make a delicious meal,’ ” Cowherd said on his show. “Well, this is not going to be Zagat-rated. I kind of feel like this. Tennessee’s O-line is bad. Their wide receiving corps is bottom five in the league. I like the coach but he is unproven.”
Cowherd does like Ward, but compares the Titans and Ward to a movie that won’t win an Oscar: “I’m just going to watch his scenes and see if he’s memorable.”
The national radio host also gave what he claimed were his final 2025 NFL season predictions, placing the Titans third in the AFC South, behind Houston and Jacksonville and ahead of Indianapolis.
Ward has never shied away from praising his offensive teammates in camp, saying early on that the Titans can be a top-10 offense in the league. He said that again on Aug. 13, after the Titans’ joint practice with the Atlanta Falcons, then went stronger in speaking specifically about the receiving group.
“I think honestly we have a top-5 receiving corps in the NFL, including the young guys who are able to make plays,” Ward said. “It’s all about us, or myself, putting the ball in their frame and letting them make a play, and it’s also those guys being aggressive to make plays for the team.”
Ward and Calvin Ridley have shown a good rapport during camp and in the preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tyler Lockett is in line to be a dependable veteran option. But behind them, the receiving room is a mix of rookies (Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike) and veterans who’ll need to take a step forward (Van Jefferson and James Proche II). Ward’s confidence won’t waver.
“I love speaking it to existence,” he said.