Cam Ward is the consensus first pick of the 2025 NFL draft, but he spun through three colleges. His first start was at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, which was the only scholarship that he was offered. After two seasons in the Southland Conference, he transferred to Washington State where he became an immediate starter.

Ward played two seasons for the Cougars and peaked in 2023 with 3,736 yards and 25 touchdowns, plus ran in eight more scores. He graduated from Washington State and declared for the NFL draft, but changed his mind and entered the NCAA transfer portal thanks to the extra year allowed from the COVID rules.

The return to college was prompted by a desire to improve his draft stock and take advantage if the NIL rules in college football that allowed payments to players. He led the Hurricanes to a 10-2 record but they missed out on the College Football Playoffs, settling for the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Ward was the ACC Player of the Year, and was the Davey O’Brien and the Manning Award winner as the best college quarterback for 2024.

Ward finished fourth in the Heisman voting. He set the Miami single-season record with 4,313 passing yards and 39 passing touchdowns led the nation.

Height: 6-2
Weight: 219 pounds
40 time: 4.64 seconds

He declined to workout at the NFL Combine and instead attended the Miami Pro Day. He demonstrated his elite arm and mechanics with only a few errant throws. He helped cement his place as the top college quarterback in this draft.

Cam Ward stats (2022-24)

Pros

  • Highly accurate at all levels
  • Very composed and cool at all times
  • Natural leader that teammates rally behind
  • Big arm to land deep strikes with excellent timing
  • Not a running quarterback, but as mobile as play needs
  • Just as dangerous when the play breaks down
  • Playmaker with elite instincts

Cons

  • Ball security will need improvement
  • Throwing mechanics need refinement; throws too many passes from back foot just relying on arm strength
  • Gunslinger confidence can result in too many risks

Fantasy Outlook

This is the one player with no need for much conjecture. He is expected by all to be the first pick in the NFL draft, the only question is whether the Titans hold onto that pick or trade it away. This is not considered to be a strong class of quarterbacks and had Ward declared last year, he would not have been the first selected and likely taken deeper in the draft behind several others.

But – he is as good as it gets for 2025 and any team needing a franchise quarterback would love to land him. It has become more certain that the Titans will hold that No. 1 pick and will start 2025 with a new rookie quarterback in Ward.

HC Brian Callahan will start his second season in Tennessee with the franchise quarterback that his scheme needs. His Year 1 fantasy value is likely only marginal as he learns the position, but that Titans may use the draft to also boster their receiving corps that currently is little more than Calvin Ridley. Ward has obvious dynasty value, but pending any major upgrades to the receivers, the rookie will likely remain as just fantasy depth.