The Tennessee Titans future success hinges on the level of development for hopeful franchise quarterback Cam Ward, as he enters his second year in the NFL.

That is an obvious statement and typical for any franchise who drafts a QB high, let alone the top overall pick in a draft class. However, the national narrative around the Titans second year gunslinger is a tough one to pin down locally as analyst attempt to sift through an objectively ugly 2025 from the Titans, across the board.

Trevor Sikkema and Connor Rogers of the NFL Stock Exchange talked this out in real time Monday when going through a unique exercise of ranking the first round picks from the 2023, 2024, and 2025 NFL Drafts. The 1-95 rankings (the Miami Dolphins’ 2023 first round pick was forfeited) were based on the draft pick process and value, not solely on the player’s performance during their first, second, or third NFL seasons.

Ward’s down and up rookie campaign made him a difficult one to slot 1-95, and Sikkema and Rogers have a significant gap for Ward on their individual rankings.

Cam Ward’s rookie season muddied by the Titans’ circumstances

“I have Cam Ward at 45 here on this list,” Sikkema started. “I don’t really know what to do with Cam Ward because the Titans weren’t great last year, obviously they fired their coach, (Brian) Callahan, six games into the season.”

Firing Callahan in mid October of his rookie season was just the beginning of ways the Titans made Ward’s life extra difficult. Pro Football Focus ratings had the Titans supporting cast around the QB ranked 27th of 32 after the season. Fox Sports’ Dan Helman had the Titans group ranked 28th going into the 2025 season.

The rookie QB had his own struggles, including facing the toughest schedule in the NFL last season.

“Ward was exactly what he was at Miami under the stipulations that he played in with Tennessee,” Sikkema continued. “I hope it’s a lot better for him this year, but also I sort of looked at Ward like I had a second round grade on Cam Ward. Now, that’s not to say I would have picked somebody else instead for the Titans at one; they kind of had to pick Cam Ward.”

“I did not know what to do with the number one overall pick type of a quarterback, whose coaching staff and supporting class cast clearly were not good enough, but he also struggled when it came to the turnovers, had a ton of fumbles, which is still an issue for him when he was going from college to the NFL.”

Rogers sees the hope in Ward’s new life under Brian Daboll

“I took a little harder stance with him, because just where I had him ranked for the draft,” Rogers said. “We’ve seen one year where the situation couldn’t have been worse around him, and he played really well the last six games of the year. I have him at 29. I like Cam Ward a lot. I think he’s going to be a good pro. I think he’s going to take big steps with Brian Daboll and better talent around him, and hopefully he does that this year.”

Tennessee has invested in making Ward’s life easier. The influx of talent in free-agent receiver Wan’Dale Robinson and fourth overall draft pick receiver Carnell Tate are easy examples. Daboll taking over as offensive coordinator is by far the most important. The fired New York Giants coach loved Ward before the draft and now gets to coach him. Daboll’s success as an NFL offensive play caller is lightyears better than his few seasons as a head coach in New York.

Ranking the QBs in the NFLSE exercise wasn’t easy

Overall, this episode of NFLSE was a fun listen. I liked the creativity behind it, and it opened up unique discussion. The quarterbacks were a tough one to nail down.

Sikkema’s QB ranking slots:

• 2) Drake Maye, New England Patriots
• 6) Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
• 12) Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
• 20) Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
• 23) CJ Stroud, Houston Texans

The two top three picks in the 2024 draft have gone to the Super Bowl and NFC Championship game, respectively, in their first two years. Nix may have been in the Super Bowl over Maye if he didn’t break his ankle in the divisional playoff win over the Buffalo Bills. Williams and Stroud have both lead their team to the playoffs.

• 28) Jaxson Dart, New York Giants
• 45) Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans
• 55) Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
• 76) Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
• 83) J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
• 91) Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts

In the grand scheme of the exercise, Ward being seventh out of the 12 quarterbacks involved isn’t crazy. The gap between Ward and Dart of Sikkema can be explained by he value boost the Giants are getting from Dart being drafted 26 instead of a high pick.

As Rodgers and Sikkema both mentioned, 2026 has more of an optimistic feel for how Ward can grow with a much improved Titans situation around him.