Cam Ward put up brilliant numbers for the Miami (FL) Hurricanes in his final college football season. He charted 4,313 passing yards, 39 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and four rushing touchdowns in his only season with the Hurricanes.
The 22-year-old’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 NFL Draft and transfer to Miami (FL) paid off. The Tennessee Titans selected Ward No.1 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. The 2024 Manning Award winner signed his rookie contract with the franchise on Wednesday, May 21.
Here’s how Ward’s deal compares to Ashton Jeanty and Shedeur Sanders, two players who were expected to be among the first few picks in this year’s NFL Draft.
Comparing Cam Ward’s Rookie Contract to Ashton Jeanty and Shedeur Sanders
Ward inked his deal with the Titans by signing his rookie contract. Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz shared the news via his X(formerly Twitter) handle.
Sources: The #Titans and No. 1 overall pick QB Cam Ward have agreed to a 4-year, $48.75M fully guaranteed rookie contract, including a $32.1M signing bonus.
The deal is done. A new era in Tennessee can officially begin. pic.twitter.com/lxSyEYI0sd
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 21, 2025
Ward has signed a fully guaranteed rookie contract worth $48.75 million that will keep him in Tennessee for four years. He will receive a whopping $32.1 million as the signing bonus. The rookie QB will make $12,187,500 annually on the deal.
Jeanty was selected No.6 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2025 NFL Draft. His four-year rookie contract has a $22,746,044 signing bonus. He will earn $8,973,953 annually, taking his total contract value to $35,895,812.
Sanders suffered a historic slide in the 2025 NFL Draft. After being a potential top-three pick, he had to wait until the fifth round to hear his name. The Cleveland Browns picked him as the 144th overall pick.
He signed his rookie contract on Tuesday, May 20. The deal includes a $447,380 signing bonus, the only guaranteed money on the deal. The son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders will make $1,161,846 every year, totalling $4,647,384 over four years.
All three of these rookies had stellar college football careers. They would fancy putting up similar or better numbers as they step into the biggest stage of them all. Ward might have a bit of competition for the starting role with Will Levis, but is likely to be the primary QB in Week 1. Jeanty, an RB, is expected to take over as the starter for the Raiders right away.
Sanders, on the other hand, might be competing for the third QB spot with Dillon Gabriel, as Joe Flacco seems certain to start in Week 1 with Kenny Pickett as his veteran backup. This might get more chaotic after Deshaun Watson returns from an Achilles injury.
Ward made his NFL preseason debut last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Here’s a preview for his next game.
Preview for Falcons vs. Titans Preseason Week 2 Game
The Atlanta Falcons come into Week 2 of the preseason following a 17-10 loss to the Detroit Lions last week. Starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is unlikely to play against the Tennessee Titans, but it will be a great opportunity for other players to make a positive impact.
The Falcons have a pretty good roster, and anything less than making the playoffs will be a failure for them this season. As a result, their players need to step up in the remaining preseason games and be ready to start on a high note in Week 1 against the Buccaneers.
The Titans lost 29-7 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their preseason opener. However, their first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Cam Ward, impressed everyone despite not playing much.
Against the Buccaneers, he completed 5/8 of his throws for 67 yards. People around the league are high on the Titans’ rookie, and it will be interesting to see how he plays against the Falcons on Friday night.
The Titans’ fans and organization will be happy even if the team has a poor record as long as Ward has a stellar rookie season. Head coach Brian Callahan is under pressure, and a poor season from the rookie quarterback could cost him his job. Hopefully, he will get the best out of Ward, similar to what he did with Joe Burrow during his time in Cincinnati.
