The Athletic recently shared their thoughts on 35 different quarterbacks with the chance to start for their team in Week 1 into five different tiers.
Ward made the list as a tier 3 quarterback in his tier-list debut by The Athletic. According to the tier list, the talented quarterback received a total of 25 votes to be in tier three, while also having four votes to be up a tier in tier 2. However, the Titans' gunslinger also received 21 votes to be in the bottom tier.
The third tier is reportedly designed for those who are a "legit starter but needs better running game or defense to win," or "lower-volume dropback passing offense suits him best."
Where Cam Ward Ranks Among the 35 Ranked Quarterbacks
Source: The Tennessean
He ranked No. 25 among the NFL quarterbacks, as he averaged out at 3.34, just keeping him in the third tier, rather than being in the bottom tier. He was only higher than three quarterbacks who made the third tier and will be expected to make a significant jump during the season, considering the Titans drafted him with the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
As for the quote that The Athletic used from a defensive coordinator when discussing Ward, the coach said, "A young gunslinger, extremely confident." That defensive coordinator wasn't identified. However, this defensive coordinator wasn't the only quote used to describe Ward's play during his rookie season.
What an Offensive Coordinator, NFL Executive, and Defensive Coordinator Said About Cam Ward
Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
"He is a young gunslinger, extremely confident," said a defensive coach whose team faced Ward. "I think they gotta tighten up how he plays the game, because he is really like a playground quarterback. I don't know how much he is doing it by the book or how it is designed to do, but he is going to make plays."
Unfortunately, the Titans' quarterback did have to make some "playground" type of plays during the 2025 season, with a large thanks to the offensive line failing up front. He will likely have to do the same in 2026.
His antics outside of the pocket didn't impress an offensive coordinator who took the survey.
"He does not give you confidence that he sees it well and can operate on time when it's not clean," an offensive coach said. "The mark of a quarterback in this league is, the pocket is collapsing, you have to anticipate, you have to know what you are looking at and why, and you have to be able to do it in that environment. I didn't see any signs of him being able to do that."
While Ward did struggle last season, "does not give you confidence" is the exact opposite of how most Titans fans would feel. After a long list of quarterbacks who just weren't cut for the NFL, the Titans were able to finally secure who looks to be their franchise quarterback moving forward. Even an NFL executive was quick to state that Ward will be good in the league.
"Cam Ward is going to be really, really good, but he's a 3 now," an exec said. "He has confidence. He can throw the ball. He's fearless in a sense, so he's not afraid to make mistakes — it doesn't carry over with him. He has to refine some of his touch and some of his decision-making, but that's all with experience and playing."
