QB Cam Ward is heading down the path of Peyton Manning and Josh Rosen with controversial comments about 2025 NFL Draft
Is Cam Ward more Peyton Manning or Josh Rosen?
NASHVILLE — Top quarterback prospect Cam Ward’s recent comments about the 2025 NFL Draft have been incredibly polarizing.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Ward issued a warning to the teams picking at the top of the draft in April. He made it clear that if a team ends up not drafting him would, it’s a decision they will live to regret.
"You're either going to draft me or you're not," Ward told The Associated Press. "If you don't draft me, that's your fault. You've got to remember you're the same team that's got to play me for the rest of my career, and I'll remember that."
Some people love this confidence from Ward. Others may find it to be a concerning character trait for a locker room leader. As I said earlier, it’s polarizing, and NFL teams likely feel the same way.
Shades of Josh Rosen
I can’t help but be reminded of Josh Rosen by Ward’s comments. Back in 2018, Rosen was selected 10th overall by the Arizona Cardinals after an unexpected fall on Draft Day.
"Nine mistakes were made ahead of me, and I will make sure over the next decade or so that they will know that they made a mistake,” said Rosen after the draft.
Three quarterbacks were picked before Rosen: Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, and Josh Allen. All three turned out to be better choices and will end up signing contracts for north of $100 million. Rosen, on the other hand, was traded away by Arizona after just one season and only started 16 games in his NFL career to the tune of 3-13.
All that talking was never backed up…Because as badly as some guys may want to prove teams wrong, they may not have what it takes.
1998 Peyton Manning
On the other side of the same coin, there's Peyton Manning. Before Manning was drafted first overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1998 NFL Draft, he let Colts owner Jim Irsay know what would happen if he passed on him for Ryan Leaf. “I would like to play for you but if you don’t pick me, I will kick your ass for the next 15 years," Manning famously said.
That's an awfully similar quote to what Ward is putting out there over 25 years later. Talking a big game before the draft is not an indicator that a prospect is going to be a success or a bust. It's really not even an indicator into whether or not a prospect is a capable leader. As we see with Manning and Rosen, there are examples of both in recent history.
For every Amon-Ra St. Brown, who famously memorized the 16 wide receivers who had their name called before him in the 2021 NFL Draft, there is a Dez Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick (drafted four picks before St. Brown) probably memorized the same names. He probably also felt disrespected. Turns out, the teams that passed on him were smart.
Pre-draft warnings just make you the center of attention. It opens you up to either be praised or memed for the rest of time. Anyone can talk smack on the GMs who got it wrong after becoming an NFL star. It takes a different kind confidence to call your shot ahead of time.
Take it or leave it, it shows us a lot about who Cam Ward is. He's not everybody's cup of tea, but is he the Titans' cup of tea? Tennessee has the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Controversial mock trade proposal between Titans and Giants triggers fans from both sides ahead of 2025 NFL Draft
This Titans-Giants trade is polarizing.
