Cam Ward was selected as the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans, but from the beginning, he has been one of the least talked-about No. 1 picks in recent memory. Ward carried plenty of hype coming out of college, but that buzz has largely faded.
"He's the least talked about, under-the-radar No. 1 pick I think in the history of football... Let's go back to last year's draft. He would've been in the mix... I think he would've been my 3rd QB,” NFL analyst Chris Simms said.
Following a season-ending injury to quarterback Will Levis, the starting job now appears to be Ward’s as training camp gets underway.
“With Will Levis out for the year, No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward is now poised to become the Titans’ starting quarterback, despite the fact that the team has not named him its starter,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote.
However, with the injury news coming so late, former Titan Taylor Lewan believes there may be more to the story regarding Levis’ delayed announcement.
“I’m sure there’s a side to the story that explains why Will waited until late July to get this surgery. Unfortunately, I’m too dumb to figure out what that is,” Lewan posted.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Lewan implies there could be a deeper reason why Levis waited until training camp to speak up. Clay Travis shared similar skepticism about the timing of Levis’ surgery.
“I’d be curious to know when Will Levis knew he needed surgery. Because waiting until the start of training camp to have the surgery instead of during the past 7 months of offseason feels spiteful,” Travis wrote.
The real reason remains unclear — maybe Levis could no longer manage the pain. Or perhaps, as training camp approached, he realized he wasn’t going to be the guy and struggled to accept it. Regardless of the motive, one thing is certain: the Titans are now in the market for a backup quarterback.