Cam Ward's preseason performance contrasted with that of recent top quarterback draft picks, with Titans' Brian Callahan voicing optimism

The Tennessee Titans have made a significant move in the NFL Draft, selecting Cam Ward as the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The young quarterback is set to make his debut in the upcoming regular season, following a promising preseason performance.

Ward, who was selected first overall by the Titans, has shown impressive skills during the preseason games. In his debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he completed 5-of-8 passes for 67 yards, demonstrating a cool head under pressure. His most impressive outing came in the preseason opener, where he completed 10-of-19 passes for 143 yards, although he did not throw any touchdowns.

In contrast, Ward's counterpart, Bryce Young, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers, struggled slightly during preseason games. Young completed 7-of-12 passes for 73 yards and a touchdown in Carolina's final preseason contest against the Detroit Lions, but his overall preseason stats were less impressive than Ward's.

While Ward is set to start his first regular season, it's worth noting that he is not the first rookie quarterback to be named a team captain by the Titans. That distinction goes to Marcus Mariota in 2015. However, there is no explicit confirmation that Ward will be the first rookie quarterback to start in his first regular-season game for the Titans.

Meanwhile, another highly touted quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, had a mixed season in 2023. He completed just 59.8% of his passes for 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 16 games.

In the preseason games of 2021, Lawrence showed promise, completing 21-of-44 passes for 323 yards and two touchdowns. However, in the final preseason game, he converted 11-of-12 passes for 139 yards and a pair of touchdowns, suggesting a marked improvement.

Another rookie quarterback, Caleb Williams, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, had growing pains in his rookie campaign. He completed 10-of-20 passes for 170 yards and rushed for a touchdown in two preseason contests.

In the 2023 regular season, Bryce Young faced a challenging debut, with opponents sacking him 62 times, which was the third-most by a rookie. Young completed 59.8% of his passes for 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 16 games.

As the NFL season approaches, the spotlight is on Cam Ward and the Tennessee Titans, who are eager to see how their new quarterback will perform in the regular season.

Cam Ward's preseason performance contrasted with that of recent top quarterback draft picks, with Titans' Brian Callahan voicing optimism