With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, the Tennessee Titans selected Cam Ward out of Miami, who will now become the franchise quarterback in Nashville.
The pick was hardly shocking, as the Titans were long expected to take the Miami signal-caller after Will Levis failed spectacularly in his second season in the NFL. Now, it'll be interesting to see if the Titans move the Kentucky product, but that's another story for another day.
Ward will sign a four-year rookie deal with the Titans at some point before training camp. According to Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap, Ward should make around $12.21 million annually on his first contract. That means Ward's rookie contract should total over $48 million.
Adding to that, Ward's rookie deal now matches up with the 2009 NFL draft contract of ex-Detroit Lions and current Los Angeles Rams quarterback, Matthew Stafford, who was the last No. 1 overall pick under the old rookie contract system.
"With the first pick in the 2025 draft set to earn about $12.21 million per year, the rookies have finally caught up to the 2009 NFL Draft contracts where Matt Stafford earned $12 million a year as a rookie," Fitzgerald wrote.
Ward's contract will include a fifth-year option, also, so assuming he pans out, the Titans will have five years to try and cash in on a Super Bowl while their young quarterback is on a cheap deal.
With Ward in tow, the Titans now have to focus on beefing up his supporting cast. The Titans are in good shape at running back, but have major concerns along the offensive line and at wide receiver and tight end. We'd expect the Titans to address those needs in the next few days.
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