There was little debate that Cam Ward was the best quarterback in the 2025 draft class, but there were plenty of opinions as to where Ward ranked overall as a prospect.
Those differences were illustrated in a sampling of grades for the Titans’ choice of Ward as the No. 1 overall pick Thursday.
kAm$6G6C2= 92?565 E96 %:E2?D 2? “p” 7@C 49@@D:?8 (2C5 2D E96 E62>’D BF2CE6C324< @7 E96 7FEFC6[ 3FE @E96CD G@:465 4@?46C?D 23@FE (2C5 :? 56=:G6C:?8 =@H6C 8C256D]k^Am
kAmw6C6’D 2 =@@< 2E `_ 8C256D @? E96 %:E2?D’ D6=64E:@? @7 (2C5ik^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m~FE=6Eik^DEC@?8m %96 pE9=6E:4k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mvC256ik^DEC@?8m qZk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{:?<i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?JE:>6D]4@>^2E9=6E:4^eb_`h__^a_ad^_c^ac^?7=\5C27E\8C256D\a_ad\C@F?5\`\6G6CJ\A:4<^Qm9EEADi^^HHH]?JE:>6D]4@>^2E9=6E:4^eb_`h__^a_ad^_c^ac^?7=\5C27E\8C256D\a_ad\C@F?5\`\6G6CJ\A:4<^k^2mk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmr@>>6?Ei “w6 92D 3@E9 E2=6?E 2?5 8C:E[ H9:49 H:== 6?562C 9:> E@ 9:D E62>>2E6D 2?5 E96 72? 32D6] p=E9@F89 9JA@E96E:42= 2?5 :CC6=6G2?E[ :E’D 72:C E@ 2D< H96C6 (2C5 H@F=5 92G6 =2?565 :? =2DE J62C’D 5C27E[ @C :7 %6??6DD66 H@F=5 92G6 D6=64E65 @?6 @7 E96 a_ac 5C27E’D D:I 7:CDE\C@F?5 BF2CE6C324<D 29625 @7 9:>] #682C5=6DD[ (2C5 92D E96 D<:== D6E E@ 364@>6 2 DF446DD7F= }u{ BF2CE6C324<] (96E96C 96 364@>6D 2 !C@ q@H=6C — 2?5[ E9FD[ F=E:>2E6=J H@CE9 E96 }@] ` A:4< — C6>2:?D E@ 36 D66?]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m~FE=6Eik^DEC@?8m q=62496C #6A@CEk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mvC256ik^DEC@?8m pk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{:?<i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3=62496CC6A@CE]4@>^2CE:4=6D^ad`h__ec\?7=\5C27E\a_ad\C@F?5\`\8C256D\6G6CJ\A:4<Qm9EEADi^^3=62496CC6A@CE]4@>^2CE:4=6D^ad`h__ec\?7=\5C27E\a_ad\C@F?5\`\8C256D\6G6CJ\A:4<k^2mk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mr@>>6?Eik^DEC@?8m “(2C5 :D E9:D J62CVD G6CD:@? @7 q2<6C |2J7:6=5 :? E92E 96 6DE23=:D965 9:>D6=7 2D E96 "q` @7 E9:D 4=2DD 3642FD6 @7 E96 8:82?E:4 3@F=56C @? 9:D D9@F=56C] %96 76==@H %6I2? H@C<65 9:D H2J FA E9C@F89 E96 C2?<D E@ 62C? 9:D DE2?5:?8]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3=62496CC6A@CE]4@>^2CE:4=6D^ad`h__ec\?7=\5C27E\a_ad\C@F?5\`\8C256D\6G6CJ\A:4<Qm9EEADi^^3=62496CC6A@CE]4@>^2CE:4=6D^ad`h__ec\?7=\5C27E\a_ad\C@F?5\`\8C256D\6G6CJ\A:4<k^2mk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m~FE=6Eik^DEC@?8m rq$ $A@CEDk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mvC256ik^DEC@?8m q\k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{:?<i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]43DDA@CED]4@>^?7=^?6HD^a_ad\?7=\5C27E\8C256D\7@C\C@F?5\`\;28D\62C?\2\7@C\EC2G:D\9F?E6C\>@G6\8:2?ED\86E\4\7@C\;2ID@?\52CE\A:4<^Qm9EEADi^^HHH]43DDA@CED]4@>^?7=^?6HD^a_ad\?7=\5C27E\8C256D\7@C\C@F?5\`\;28D\62C?\2\7@C\EC2G:D\9F?E6C\>@G6\8:2?ED\86E\4\7@C\;2ID@?\52CE\A:4<^k^2mk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mr@>>6?Eik^DEC@?8m “%2<:?8 (2C5 2E E96 E@A 2?5 A2DD:?8 @? 2 86?6C2E:@?2= E2=6?E =:<6 %C2G:D wF?E6C :D C:D<J :? >J 3@@<] (2C5 :D 8@@5[ ?@E 8C62E] %96J 4@F=5 92G6 H2:E65 F?E:= ?6IE J62C E@ E2<6 E96:C BF2CE6C324<]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m~FE=6Eik^DEC@?8m u~) $A@CEDk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mvC256ik^DEC@?8m qk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{:?<i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7@IDA@CED]4@>^DE@C:6D^?7=^a_ad\?7=\5C27E\8C256D\7:CDE\C@F?5Qm9EEADi^^HHH]7@IDA@CED]4@>^DE@C:6D^?7=^a_ad\?7=\5C27E\8C256D\7:CDE\C@F?5k^2mk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mr@>>6?Eik^DEC@?8m “!FE D:>A=J[ (2C5 5@6D?VE 92G6 E96 D2>6 7=@@C @7 >@DE "q`D] w6 :D E@@ 42G2=:6C H:E9 E96 7@@E32==[ 6I46==:?8 :? >@C6 @7 2 324<J2C5 DEJ=6 E92? xV5 AC676C] qFE 96 :D 2 3@C? A=2J>2<6C H:E9 E96 E2=6?E 2?5 H@C< 6E9:4 E@ DA2C< 2 7C2?49:D6] %96C6 2C6 >@C6 DFC67:C6 }u{ DE2CD :? E9:D 4=2DD[ 3FE ?@E 2E BF2CE6C324<] $@ 8:G6 E96 %:E2?D 4C65:E] %96J 2C6 ECJ:?8 E@ 4@>A6E6 7@C 2 $FA6C q@H= 2?5 ?@E ;FDE 2 C6EFC? E@ C6=6G2?4J H:E9 E9:D D6=64E:@?]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m~FE=6Eik^DEC@?8m k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^}u{]4@>Qm}u{]4@>k^2mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mvC256ik^DEC@?8m pk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{:?<i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?7=]4@>^?6HD^a_ad\?7=\5C27E\D?2A\8C256D\7@C\2==\ba\E62>D\@?\52J\`Qm9EEADi^^HHH]?7=]4@>^?6HD^a_ad\?7=\5C27E\D?2A\8C256D\7@C\2==\ba\E62>D\@?\52J\`k^2mk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mr@>>6?Eik^DEC@?8m “w6VD 2 4@?7:56?E[ 6IA6C:6?465 =6256C H9@D6 82>6 :D 2 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 y2J56? s2?:6=D 2?5 q@ }:I[ H9@ 3@E9 925 DF446DD7F= a_ac C@@<:6 42>A2:8?D[ FD:?8 9:D DEC@?8 2C> E@ H9:A A2DD6D :?E@ 2== =6G6=D @7 E96 5676?D6 H9:=6 A@DD6DD:?8 E96 >@3:=:EJ E@ H@C< @FED:56 E96 A@4<6E @C E2<6 @77 7@C 2 7:CDE 5@H?]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m~FE=6Eik^DEC@?8m !C@ u@@E32== u@4FDk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mvC256ik^DEC@?8m p3@G6 2G6C286k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{:?<i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]A77]4@>^?6HD^5C27E\a_ad\?7=\5C27E\8C256D\6G6CJ\7:CDE\C@F?5\A:4<Qm9EEADi^^HHH]A77]4@>^?6HD^5C27E\a_ad\?7=\5C27E\8C256D\6G6CJ\7:CDE\C@F?5\A:4<k^2mk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mr@>>6?Eik^DEC@?8m “(2C5 >:89E ?@E 36 E96 E@A @G6C2== A=2J6C :? E9:D 5C27E[ 3FE 96 :D E96 4=62C\4FE E@A BF2CE6C324< AC@DA64E :? 2 H62<6C 4=2DD — 2 >2DD:G6 2C62 @7 ?665 7@C %6??6DD66 27E6C E96 E62> C2?<65 5625 =2DE :? !uu A2DD:?8 8C256 :? a_ac Wdf]_X] (2C5 62C?65 2? uq$\36DE ha]h !uu 8C256 =2DE D62D@? 2E |:2>: 2?5 3C:?8D 2 3:8\A=2J >6?E2=:EJ[ 6G:56?465 3J 9:D e]b A6C46?E 3:8\E:>6 E9C@H C2E6 :? a_ac[ E92E D9@F=5 96=A 3C62E96 =:76 :?E@ E96 %:E2?D’ A2DD:?8 2EE24<]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m~FE=6Eik^DEC@?8m %96 #:?86Ck^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mvC256ik^DEC@?8m qk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{:?<ik^DEC@?8m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?7=5C27E]E96C:?86C]4@>^5C27E\8C256DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDEC@?8m9EEADi^^?7=5C27E]E96C:?86C]4@>^5C27E\8C256Dk^DEC@?8mk^2mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mr@>>6?Eik^DEC@?8m “&=E:>2E6=J[ x’> 3F==:D9 @? (2C5’D E2=6?E[ 2?5 96 4@F=5 6?5 FA 2D 2 7C2?49:D6 A=2J6C] qFE E9:D :D 2 DFA6C\9:89\G2C:2?46 82>3=6 — 2?5 :E >FDE 36 ?@E65 E92E E96 E62> A2DD65 @G6C 9:89\46:=:?8[ 3=F6\49:A E2=6?ED =:<6 H:56 C646:G6C^4@C?6C324< %C2G:D wF?E6C 2?5 6586 CFD96C p35F= r2CE6C E@ >2<6 E9:D D6=64E:@?]” k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m~FE=6Eik^DEC@?8m $A@CE:?8 }6HDk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mvC256ik^DEC@?8m pk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{:?<ik^DEC@?8m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DA@CE:?8?6HD]4@>^FD^?7=^?6HD^?7=\5C27E\8C256D\a_ad\=:G6\A:4<D\C6DF=ED^_4hd4h`cc3adeefa56fh53h7Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDEC@?8m9EEADi^^HHH]DA@CE:?8?6HD]4@>^FD^?7=^?6HD^?7=\5C27E\8C256D\a_ad\=:G6\A:4<D\C6DF=ED^_4hd4h`cc3adeefa56fh53h7k^DEC@?8mk^2mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mr@>>6?Eik^DEC@?8m “%96 %:E2?D 8@E D@=5 @? (2C5VD DEC@?8 2C> 2?5 2E9=6E:4:D> 8:G:?8 E96> E96 4@>A=6E6 A24<286 E96J ?66565 E@ 36 E96:C 36DE =@?8\E6C> 7C2?49:D6 "q D:?46 E96 =2E6 $E6G6 |4}2:C] (2C5 A2DD65 2== E96 AC6\5C27E E6DED 2?5 42? E9C:G6 D@@? H:E9 D@>6 25565 DFAA@CE F?56C @776?D:G6\>:?565 qC:2? r2==292?]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m~FE=6Eik^DEC@?8m k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^$x]4@>Qm$x]4@>k^2mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mvC256ik^DEC@?8m pk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{:?<i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D:]4@>^?7=^=:G6\a_ad\?7=\5C27E\7:CDE\C@F?5\8C256D\7@C\6G6CJ\E62>Qm9EEADi^^HHH]D:]4@>^?7=^=:G6\a_ad\?7=\5C27E\7:CDE\C@F?5\8C256D\7@C\6G6CJ\E62>k^2mk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mr@>>6?Eik^DEC@?8m “~442D:@?2==J[ (2C5 8@E :? EC@F3=6 7@C 9:D 324<J2C5 7@@E32== 923:ED[ 3FE 96 92D E96 :562= D<:== D6E E@ 92G6 2 DF446DD7F= AC@ 42C66C] %:E2?D 4@249 qC:2? r2==292? 2?5 E96 E62>’D ?6H 7C@?E @77:46 2C6 E2<:?8 2 C:D< 96C6[ E9@F89[ AC:@C:E:K:?8 2 ?665 2E BF2CE6C324< :?DE625 @7 D6=64E:?8 E96 36DE AC@DA64E] qFE 2E =62DE E96 %:E2?D <?@H (2C5 92D E96 H@C< 6E9:4 E@ A@DD:3=J C6249 9:D 9:89 A@E6?E:2=[ 6G:56?E 7C@> 9:D C:D6 2D 2 ?@\DE2C C64CF:E H9@ 62C?65 9:D D9@ED 2E (2D9:?8E@? $E2E6 2?5 |:2>: 27E6C A=2J:?8 7@C x?42C?2E6 (@C5]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m~FE=6Eik^DEC@?8m %96 bbkDFAmC5k^DFAm %62>k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mvC256ik^DEC@?8m qZk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{:?<i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E96bbC5E62>]4@>^a_ad\?7=\5C27E\8C256D\2?2=JD:D\7@C\6G6CJ\7:CDE\C@F?5\A:4<^Qm9EEADi^^HHH]E96bbC5E62>]4@>^a_ad\?7=\5C27E\8C256D\2?2=JD:D\7@C\6G6CJ\7:CDE\C@F?5\A:4<^k^2mk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mr@>>6?Eik^DEC@?8m “%6??6DD66 ?665D 2? @776?D:G6 6?8:?6 E@ 3F:=5 2C@F?5[ 2?5 r2>6C@? (2C5 92D E96 36DE 3=6?5 @7 4FCC6?E D<:== 2?5 EC2:ED E@ 56G6=@A :?E@ @?6] w:D 7C66\H966=:?8 DEJ=6 >:89E 7CFDEC2E6 qC:2? r2==292?[ 3FE E96 %:E2?D 9@A6 96 42? 92C?6DD 9:D :?DE:?4ED =:<6 y@C52? {@G6 92D :? vC66? q2J]”k^Am

