When the Titans took Cam Ward No. 1 overall in last year’s draft, they probably had no idea the results would be like this after 22 games.
Based on his results at three different collegiate stops – Incarnate Word, Washington State and Miami – Ward was the NCAA’s all-time leader in career touchdown passes with 158.
In 22 games as a pro quarterback, Ward has thrown just 18 touchdown passes – fewer than one per game.
Granted, the college game doesn’t always translate to the NFL as receivers don’t often run open and free at the top level the way they do in college football.
Still, the drop-off in production is staggering. Even discarding the stats he put up in two years at FCS Incarnate Word, Ward’s production for Washington State and Miami over three years gave no indication that he would struggle this badly as a pro.
For instance, Ward, who had a reputation as a gunslinger in college, still does not have a 300-yard passing game to his credit and has not had a pass completion of more than 47 yards on his resume.
Compare that to what he did in college. Ward had 21 games where he passed for 300 yards or more and also had six 400-yard games in that tally. In his lone season quarterbacking the Hurricanes, Ward began the season with seven straight 300-yard games.
Again, there are major differences between college football and the NFL, especially when it comes to how offenses work and how defenses attack passing games.
But Ward’s production completely merited him being a first-round pick and the rating of being the top quarterback prospect in the 2025 draft. It was enough to convince the Titans that he was worthy of the top overall pick.
The baffling part is why hasn’t any of it translated so far as Ward has struggled to find his way as an NFL starting quarterback?