The Tennessee Titans are entering a crucial offseason, facing one of the biggest questions — who will be the pick at No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft? According to PFN’s latest 7-round Mock Draft, Shedeur Sanders went No. 1 to the Titans, while Cam Ward slipped to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 6.
From PFN’s Dalton Miller: “The Titans are in an interesting spot. Brian Callahan needs a new name under center for his offense. His relationship with Will Levis is tumultuous at best, and he should have more than enough security to have Sanders develop for a year or two.
Sanders isn’t a finished product. Sanders is the most accurate quarterback in the class by a significant margin, and he can work within an NFL timeline, considering he’s survived poor protection in college throughout his career. His physical ceiling is lower than Cam Ward’s, but the same clear frustrations Callahan has with Levis will be present with Ward, who is, by any definition, an old-school gunslinger.”
Who Has the Edge, Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders?
According to David Furones, Miami Dolphins beat reporter for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper has Ward over Sanders. Kiper stated on SportsCenter, “He’s hearing from NFL folks that Cam Ward currently has the edge on Shedeur Sanders because of arm strength and mobility.”
Mel Kiper said, on SportsCenter, what he’s hearing from NFL folks is Cam Ward currently has the edge on Shedeur Sanders because of arm strength and mobility.
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) January 22, 2025
Ward’s closest comparison is Zach Wilson. His bad habits will only be magnified in live action against NFL defenses.
Ward is one of the nation’s most talented and natural passers. Beginning with arm talent, the 6’2″, 223-pound quarterback from West Columbia, Texas, can make every throw at the next level.
He has little restriction on accessing the short, intermediate, and deep portions of the defense. When he releases the ball down the field, it pops off his hands. Ward can fire the ball with immense velocity past any defender.
The former Miami Hurricane is an accurate full-field passer. He layers passes with precise touch in the middle of the field over underneath defenders. With his quick release and accuracy, Ward is effective in the quick passing game. He has a flexible arm that allows him to throw from multiple angles/slots and fit passes around incoming defenders in the backfield.
Ward’s downfall is protecting the football and limiting turnover-worthy plays. He has “hero ball” tendencies instead of taking what defenses give him. Also, he needs to limit pre-determined pre-snap reads, allowing defenders to bait him into bad decisions.
As for Sanders, the 6’1″, 198-pound quarterback is one of the purest passers from the pocket in college football and the NFL Draft class. This will make him appealing to NFL offensive coordinators and head coaches.
He is a mobile quarterback who can throw a catchable ball on the move or inside the pocket. Also, he has outstanding poise in the pocket. Sanders is an incredibly accurate and precise passer, especially in the short-to-intermediate parts of the field. Sanders displays innate comfort, throwing from the pocket with pressure bearing down. He brings outstanding poise and calmness in late-game situations to lead his team to victory.
However, Sanders takes too many hits because he tries to make a play and holds onto the ball. Those hits add up in the NFL and can create injuries over time.
He is equipped with an NFL-caliber arm, but drifting backward in the pocket negatively impacts the velocity behind his passes. He does not utilize his athleticism enough to escape the pocket quickly and avoid sacks. Also, he needs to improve on route anticipation, waiting for his wide receiver to look for the ball instead of throwing it before his break.
