Early returns can be misleading for rookie quarterbacks taken at the top of the NFL draft. The few wins the Tennessee Titans have this season haven’t come easily for Cam Ward, as his stat lines haven’t always jumped off the sheet. However, judging his rookie season by the standings alone dismisses the bigger picture for the team.
History shows that No. 1 overall picks rarely thrive immediately, especially when they are drafted into terrible situations (See 2024 Caleb Williams). Ward’s first year wasn't about instant success, but more so about surviving, learning, and laying the foundation for years to come in Tennessee.