Rich Cooling stayed true to his board and selected Cam Ward with the 1.02, even though he already rosters Drake Maye and Jordan Love. He has Hampton, McMillan and Ward in the same post-Jeanty tier but stressed that Superflex value is driven by quarterbacks. Ward gives him a third quality starter or a highly liquid trade chip. Cooling cautioned listeners not to pass on a top-tier quarterback for positional need because QB assets retain value better than any other position in dynasty.

Pete Overzet selected rookie Cam Ward as his QB2 after pick 160, calling the Titans passer an ideal best-ball gamble. Ward offers differentiated rushing juice at a basement ADP, something Overzet prizes when he already has a safe floor in Baker Mayfield. The Titans have Calvin Ridley locked in as the No. 1 but everything else—Tyler Lockett, Chig Okonkwo, a cluster of rookie receivers—is "ambiguous," giving drafters multiple cheap back-stack options in the final rounds. Overzet likes that Ward can add 30–40 ground yards and a goal-line score on any given week, mitigating Tennessee’s uncertain passing volume. Because Ward costs almost nothing and the room can still tack on a third quarterback (he mentioned Tyler Shough or Anthony Richardson) if needed, Overzet views him as a high-ceiling, low-opportunity-cost way to finish QB rooms that missed on earlier elite stacks.

Levitan cautioned drafters not to overweight Cam Ward’s 1.01 draft capital. The rookie lands on a Titans roster whose top pass catchers are 30-year-old Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett on his fourth NFL contract, and tight end Chig Okonkwo; the rest of the depth chart is Van Jefferson and Day-3 rookies. While Tennessee’s offensive line rates above average, Levitan doubts Ward can elevate what might be the worst skill-position group in football. Ward’s 155 overall ADP makes him a viable third-QB flier in best-ball stacks with Ridley, but in season-long formats Levitan recommends streaming proven veterans instead of hoping Ward overcomes a supporting cast that offers little yards-after-catch or contested-catch ability.

Steve Palazzolo argued Tennessee’s offensive-line overhaul meaningfully boosts Cam Ward’s 2025 redraft viability. The Titans inserted veteran Kevin Zeitler at right guard, slid 2024 first-rounder JC Latham to his more natural right-tackle spot, signed Dan Moore Jr. to handle the blind side, and will get Peter Skoronski entering his third season. Palazzolo believes that combo puts the unit in "creep-back-toward-average territory, maybe even better"—a massive upgrade from the group that finished 29th in pass-block win rate last year. With Ward’s biggest collegiate issue being pressure-induced turnover-worthy plays, Palazzolo expects a cleaner pocket to trim his projected interception rate by roughly a full percentage point. He now views Ward as a viable late-round QB2 flyer in superflex redraft formats and an intriguing matchup-based streamer when Tennessee faces bottom-half pass-rush units.

Sam Monson warned that Cam Ward carries more bust risk than people admit, stressing that Ward has NEVER posted a turnover-worthy play rate below 3.3%, a figure Monson labeled "high even for the NFL and especially high in college." Ward’s "big-game-hunter" mentality leads him to skip easy underneath completions in favor of down-field shots, putting him on the Josh Allen-to-Will-Levis spectrum where genius can instantly flip to recklessness. Monson contrasted that with Shadur Sanders, whose turnover-worthy rate is roughly half. For fantasy, Monson advised dynasty managers to price in early multi-turnover outings and redraft players to avoid overpaying until Tennessee proves it can coach the gambler out of Ward’s game.

Steve Palazzolo said Cam Ward owns the clearest path in this class to becoming a top-8 to top-12 fantasy quarterback. Ward measured 6-2, 223 and flashes effortless velocity from any arm angle while offering functional, prime-Russell-Wilson athleticism that buys time and adds rushing value. Palazzolo pointed to Ward’s 158-37 career TD-INT tally, a 92.9 PFF grade at Miami, and his proven ability to elevate both Washington State and Miami offenses. Although Ward’s occasional "lunatic" throws evoke Josh Allen, Palazzolo noted they surface only once or twice per game and Ward bounces back immediately. Because the Titans need a signal-caller who can someday trade blows with Mahomes, Burrow, and Allen, Palazzolo believes Ward is the most likely rookie QB to hit that ceiling, making him an aggressive buy in dynasty rookie drafts and a viable long-shot Offensive Rookie of the Year bet.

Jason la Canfora also backed Cam Ward for OROY, emphasizing that it is a quarterback-driven award and Ward will have every advantage. Year 2 under legendary line coach Bill Callahan should solidify protection, while a motivated coaching staff—nepotism angle included—will scheme to keep Brian Callahan employed by putting Ward in optimal spots. La Canfora expects glowing OTA reports to slash Ward’s current plus money, so grabbing +380 now offers outsized value.

Emory Hunt likes Cam Ward at +380 to capture Offensive Rookie of the Year, noting that Ward’s highlight-reel style, leadership presence, and surrounding pass-catching talent will rack up the "style points" voters love. Hunt expects the number to swing to heavy minus money by Week 5 once Ward’s playmaking shows up on Sundays, so he urges bettors to strike while the market is still plus money.

Justin Herzig pointed out that rookie quarterback Cam Ward was still on the board nearly 20 picks past his Underdog ADP, calling the slide a pure market quirk rather than a talent indictment. Ward is drifting because only one of his pass catchers (Calvin Ridley) typically comes off the board early, so fewer drafters feel compelled to complete a stack. Herzig said he would have selected Ward a full round earlier had he known the room would let him sink, noting Ward’s dual-threat profile and Shane Waldron’s historically pass-leaning tendencies in the red zone. He urged listeners to capitalize on rooms that let Ward drift into the double-digit rounds, labeling him a high-ceiling QB2 whose price will tighten once more drafters start pairing him with mid-round Seahawks like Tyler Lockett and Tre Mosley.

Pat Kerrane said he is aggressively drafting Cam Ward at his current 12th-round Best Ball ADP (around 139 overall) because he expects the No. 1 pick to start every game for a Brian Callahan offense that just coaxed usable fantasy weeks from Jake Browning and even Mason Rudolph. Kerrane pointed to Ward’s year-over-year improvement in PFF accuracy grades, a strong pressure-to-sack ratio, and the fact that he was never a screen merchant in college as evidence the rookie can handle a full NFL passing workload. With Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins already in place and the Titans quietly adding Tyler Lockett as a third option, Kerrane projects Ward for roughly 35 pass attempts per game and a red-zone rushing package that could produce 4–5 touchdowns. He compared the fantasy path to Kyler Murray’s rookie season ceiling and said he will keep scooping Ward until the market prices him ahead of veterans like Matthew Stafford.

Cooling slotted Cam Ward at 1.02 in Superflex, pointing to the infrastructure Tennessee has quietly built around him. He projects Ward as an immediate back-end QB2 thanks to solid weapons and offensive line additions, while noting Ward’s rushing juice creates top-12 weekly upside. The Titans’ first-round investment and Cooling’s Superflex premium philosophy make Ward the safest non-Dentee pick in rookie drafts.

Rich Rebar pushed back on the Ward enthusiasm, framing him as a likely long-term QB2 who "moonlights as a QB1" at best. He noted Ward’s archetype lacks elite rushing or explosive passing upside, and the modern NFL is ejecting from mediocre first-round quarterbacks faster than ever (citing Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Kenny Pickett, Anthony Richardson, etc.). Because dynasty managers must decide after Year 1 whether to hold or sell, Rebar advised exploring every trade option when on the clock instead of automatically taking Ward, especially in leagues where trading is difficult.

John Daigle accepted the default of drafting Cam Ward at the 1.05 in Superflex despite acknowledging some risk. His optimism stems from Tennessee’s aggressively upgraded offensive line and last year’s evidence that the staff wanted to be pass-heavy until Mason Rudolph forced them run-heavy. Daigle expects the Titans to "come out firing" with Ward’s gunslinger tendencies, giving dynasty managers a shot at an immediate QB2 with room to grow if the volume spike materializes.

Chris Raybon pushed back on Ward’s upside, noting every No. 1 overall QB since Joe Burrow has finished between QB-16 and QB-25 as rookies. Raybon ranked Ward behind last year’s elite prospects (Daniels, Williams, Maye) and warned drafters not to treat him like a late-round lottery ticket. He sees a "Drake Maye type" trajectory—steady improvement but uneven year-long output—making Ward only a desperation QB2 in best-ball builds that wait until the QB24 range.

Sean Koerner said the No. 1 pick Cam Ward will beat out Will Levis and open the season under center for Tennessee. Ward impressed Koerner with a calm pocket presence, an NFL-caliber arm and an aggressive down-field mindset that should finally give Calvin Ridley catchable deep balls. Koerner projected roughly 20 rushing yards a game—"younger Russell Wilson" levels that create sneaky fantasy value—yet cautioned that a limited supporting cast caps ceiling. With Tennessee still short on pass-catchers, Koerner expects Ward to settle in as a low-end QB2 for 2025 best-ball and redraft formats unless he produces a C.J. Stroud-like outlier rookie campaign.

Mike Renner applauded Tennessee’s decision to surround first-overall pick Cam Ward with multiple late-round pass-catchers—TE Gunner Helm (Texas), WR Aleke Ominor (Stanford) and WR Camarry DK (Florida)—saying the Titans "threw the kitchen sink at it" to give their rookie quarterback diverse collaboration partners. Renner believes the volume of developmental weapons raises Ward’s odds of finding an immediate chemistry fit and accelerates his fantasy relevance, especially in superflex and dynasty leagues. He added that the Titans’ new OC figures to install a quick-game scheme that leverages Helm’s seam ability and DK’s speed, giving Ward a realistic path to low-end QB2 numbers as early as Year 1. Renner advised dynasty managers to prioritize Ward over similarly tiered rookie quarterbacks because the surrounding talent and draft capital suggest Tennessee will live with early mistakes while letting him rack up volume.

Davis Mattek framed Cam Ward as the ideal late-round quarterback to stockpile in Best Ball and redraft formats. Mattek noted Ward’s ADP sits around 139—often after Matthew Stafford—yet he is almost guaranteed 17 starts because Tennessee has already decided Will Levis is "not the guy." Mattek likes the floor created by pure volume: Brian Callahan’s offenses have ranked top-10 in pass attempts in three of the last four seasons and still managed to look functional with Mason Rudolph. Ward’s college profile shows year-over-year improvement, top-quartile pressure-to-sack ratio, and a PFF chart that confirms he was “not a screen merchant,” meaning his production should translate to deeper NFL concepts. Although Ward is not a true dual threat, Mattek reminded listeners that he scored six rushing TDs inside the five over the past two seasons and could siphon goal-line carries much like rookie-year C.J. Stroud. Add in established weapons Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins plus a likely pass-heavy game script for a rebuilding defense, and Mattek projects 550+ attempts with sneaky six-point rushing upside. At cost, he is targeting Ward on 18% of his current Best Ball teams and plans to stay overweight unless Ward’s ADP jumps multiple rounds.

Donnie Wrightside stated that Tennessee’s No. 1 pick is "signed, sealed and delivered" to Cam Ward, calling the Washington State product the only bona‑fide franchise quarterback in this class. He stressed that the Titans’ refusal to entertain offers signals they value Ward more than any haul of future picks, noting parallels to drafts where QB‑needy teams like the Rams (Goff) and Panthers (Bryce Young) stood pat. Because of that conviction, Wrightside recommends betting Ward at prohibitive odds to go 1.01 and fading any market speculating on late Tennessee trade‑downs. Fantasy drafters in superflex formats should also anticipate immediate opportunity volume, as the Titans’ depth chart is otherwise barren.

Mike DeCourcy said Cam Ward is the only quarterback in the 2024 class who warrants first‑round consideration. After watching Ward’s tape and cross‑checking multiple scouting reports, DeCourcy concluded Ward possesses the "extraordinary arm talent" that separates Joe Burrow, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes from the pack. None of the other highly touted passers show that level of velocity or down‑field juice. Because NFL general managers almost always demand top‑shelf arm strength before spending a Round‑1 pick, DeCourcy expects Ward to be the lone quarterback taken on Thursday night. Bettors looking at draft props should consider any market that prices the number of first‑round QBs over 1.5 or positions Ward outside the top quarterback slot, as DeCourcy believes those lines are mispriced.

Evan Silva said Tennessee’s front office has made its intentions crystal clear: the Titans ignored every veteran quarterback in free agency—passing on Sam Darnold and settling for journeyman Brandon Allen with eight‑inch hands—because they fully expect to select Cam Ward at the top of the draft and start him immediately. Silva noted the Titans have been "locked in on Cam Ward" for three to four weeks and added that Ward will open the season as the Week 1 starter. For betting markets this is actionable information on Ward’s draft slot and Rookie of the Year odds; for best‑ball drafters it signals immediate fantasy opportunity tied to Day‑1 playing time.

Jonathan Jones said the Titans will make Cam Ward the first‑overall pick on Thursday. Jones has spoken with multiple front–office sources who all have Ward as the clear QB1 in this class and noted Tennessee has fielded only cursory calls—no serious trade offers—so they are comfortable sitting tight. Quarterback is the roster’s obvious hole, and Ward’s dual‑threat skill set lines up with Brian Callahan’s scheme. Jones did add that the organization will probably run the full 10‑minute clock, and Ward himself has not yet been told he is the selection, but Jones is adamant the decision is done.

Thor Nystrom said Cam Ward has essentially locked up the No. 1 overall selection to the Tennessee Titans, calling it a "free spot" on every draft card. Tennessee quietly cancelled previously scheduled private workouts with Colorado stars Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, a signal to Nystrom that the front office has zeroed in on Ward. Because the betting market has not fully baked this in, Nystrom believes any price that is still south of –300 remains playable, either as a straight wager or the first leg of exact‑order draft props.

John Middlekauff said he is hammering Tennessee’s season‑win total over 5.5 now that Cam Ward is a near‑certain No. 1 overall pick. Middlekauff believes Ward’s big‑arm, off‑script skill set is a massive upgrade from the Will Levis–Ryan Tannehill carousel that produced the NFL’s 31st‑ranked offense. He pointed to Brian Callahan’s pass‑friendly scheme and a quietly solid Titans defense that finished 12th in DVOA against the run as reasons six or seven wins are realistic in an AFC South he called “pretty crappy.” With Ward’s mobility masking a shaky offensive line and Tennessee likely to add another receiver on Day 2, Middlekauff views the 5.5 line as a full win too low.