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Titans select Cam Ward No. 1 overall, here’s what they’ll get<\/p>\n
The Tennessee Titans have their new quarterback after selecting Miami’s Cam Ward first overall and we break down his strengths and weaknesses.<\/p>\n
Sports Pulse<\/p>\n
Editor’s note: Follow 2025 NFL Draft live updates, grades and analysis<\/a>.<\/p>\n NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2013 Cam Ward<\/a> is officially The Chosen One for the Tennessee Titans<\/a>.<\/p>\n As expected for weeks, the rags-to-riches quarterback was officially christened on Thursday night as the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft \u2013 and new face of hope for the rebuilding of a struggling franchise.<\/p>\n Ward, who considered entering the draft a year ago but instead transferred to star for a single season at the University of Miami, checked all the boxes. Rocket arm. High football IQ. Leadership. The Titans pretty much settled on Ward a month ago and held firm in the decision.<\/p>\n Then there was that one final factor: Make them an offer they can\u2019t refuse.<\/p>\n The Titans had their conviction in Ward put to the test by refusing multiple trade offers for the No. 1 pick \u2013 including a reported blockbuster overture from the New York Giants<\/a>.<\/p>\n According to ESPN\u2019s Adam Schefter,<\/a> the Giants offered a package of picks that included two first-round picks \u2013 the third pick this year and next year\u2019s first-rounder \u2013 for the chance to select Ward.<\/p>\n No deal. The Titans wouldn\u2019t budge.<\/p>\n “I did want to listen, because I think you have to do your due diligence and listen,” Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi said. “I did that. But I think we came to a decision: We weren\u2019t going to move off that pick and we wanted Cam.”<\/p>\n It was natural that teams would call and fitting that any temptation for the Titans \u2013 with so many needs across the board \u2013 to build additional draft capital would be part of the equation.<\/p>\n After all, stuff happens. The Jacksonville Jaguars<\/a> pulled off a stunner in landing Travis Hunter, the two-way unicorn. To move up to the second slot from the fifth spot, the Jaguars swayed the Cleveland Browns<\/a> with a huge bundle that included next year\u2019s first-round pick and two other choices.<\/p>\n Yet in the Titans\u2019 case, they saw no better value than to bank on Ward\u2019s potential \u2013 he played at three schools in five seasons and passed for a Division 1-record 158 touchdown passes — to become the franchise quarterback to build with.<\/p>\n How much would it have taken to trade the pick?<\/p>\n “If you identify a franchise quarterback, there\u2019s really not a price you can pay for that in my mind,” said Borgonzi, who spent 16 years rising in the ranks for the Kansas City Chiefs<\/a> front office before coming to Tennessee this year. “That\u2019s the most important position in sports. If you come to a consensus, and we did, that he has the potential to be that.”<\/p>\n Borgonzi, who brings the reference point of intimately watching Patrick Mahomes<\/a> quickly develop into the NFL\u2019s best quarterback, said it was Ward\u2019s ability to quickly process, that won him over. Titans coach Brian Callahan hailed Ward\u2019s leadership ability and the intangibles.<\/p>\n Ward, 22, himself feels the Titans were struck by his journey. He was a zero-star recruit coming out of high school. After two seasons on the FBS level at Incarnate Word, he transferred to Washington State for another two seasons. He initially entered the NFL draft pool last year but was projected as a fourth-round pick.<\/p>\n By the time this year\u2019s draft process came along, Ward sensed he couldn\u2019t have been better positioned.<\/p>\n Asked when he felt like the Titans settled on him as the top pick, Ward said, \u201cI thought I was the guy all along.\u201d<\/p>\n Callahan, the second-year coach, was convinced after meeting Ward at the combine, which kick-started the intense process of drilling down on the final decision. Even in a 15-minute initial interview, Callahan was impressed by Ward\u2019s presence and football mentality.<\/p>\n Now Callahan, who helped develop Joe Burrow as the No.1 pick overall for the Cincinnati Bengals, can\u2019t wait to get on with the process of grooming his new star pupil.<\/p>\n “And stop pretending about all the things we\u2019ve had to pretend about over the course of the last couple of months,\u201d Callahan said.<\/p>\n Earlier in the week, during the pre-draft press conference, someone asked Borgonzi what his message would be to teams that might call with trade offers for the top pick.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t bother calling,\u201d came the reply.<\/p>\n Callahan knows.<\/p>\n \u201cUltimately, we felt like Cam\u2019s a player we weren\u2019t going to let go anywhere else,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n In other words, there was no offer they couldn\u2019t refuse.<\/p>\n All the news on and off the field: Sign up<\/a> for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter for NFL content.<\/p>\n