Former Titans GM Clarifies Stance on Cam Ward as Mario Cristobal Sends Clear Message to Mike Borgonzi & Co.

The pick was inevitable, but that didn’t make the moment any less electric. With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans selected Cam Ward. The electric quarterback out of Miami. It capped a meteoric rise for a player who not long ago was flying under the radar as a zero-star recruit. For Ward, it was “special.” For the Titans, it was the next chapter of a full-throttle rebuild. And for the rest of the league? A clear message: Tennessee is ready to pivot into a new offensive era under Brian Callahan—and they just handed the keys to a signal-caller with fire in his chest and something to prove.

Cam Ward steps into a system tailored for QB development, and few understand that better than a former Titans insider who helped build the early blueprint. “I think it’s a great fit,” said former Titans GM Ran Carthon. “You lean on Brian Callahan’s experience in working with quarterbacks from young guys to the older guys. And he understands how to meet every quarterback at every point of their career in which they are.” For Carthon, the fit was about more than just scheme—it’s about culture and mentorship, two things Tennessee now has in abundance.

The message to Cam was simple: get to work. “The next step for Cam is to get in the building, get situated, and then just put his head down,” Carthon continued. “Just go to work and spend as much time as he can with offensive coordinator Nick Holtz and quarterback coach Bo Hardegree. And just learn this offense. Get into it and also build a relationship and a rapport with his new receiving corps.” And what a receiving corps it is shaping up to be. “You have a Calvin Ridley, you just signed a Tyler Lockett, and you’re getting a Treylon Burks coming off of injury,” Carthon said. “And so you got those guys now, and now you know where you’re going to be—and now you can start building that rapport.”

Tyler Lockett’s arrival in Nashville just hours before the draft didn’t feel like a coincidence. The longtime Seahawks WR brings veteran savvy and reliability, but also familiarity. Lockett is best friends with Titans safety Quandre Diggs, who happens to be Cam Ward’s cousin. The chemistry there could build quickly and, more importantly, naturally. Lockett has been known to take younger receivers—and quarterbacks—under his wing. For Ward, he’s not just a target; he’s a security blanket and a bridge into the NFL fraternity.

“I think it’s a great fit.”

Former Titans GM Ran Carthon believes Cam Ward is a great fit for the Titans. pic.twitter.com/R5EAauhXsn

— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) April 25, 2025

As for Ward himself, the humility and hunger that got him here are still front and center. “I am excited for the opportunity the organization has blessed me with, and I’m ready to get to work with my teammates,” he said, via the team’s website. “I was hoping [the Titans] would pick me for real, especially when I got to learn more about coach [Brian] Callahan’s offense, the new General Manager Mr. Mike [Borgonzi] and President Mr. Chad [Brinker]. Miss Amy [Adams Strunk] is a great owner, and they have a great organization.” He’s not just talking like a pro; he’s already sounding like a Titan. “So, I am excited. It all worked out in the long run, and I am grateful for it.”

But make no mistake—Cam Ward hasn’t forgotten where he came from. “Zero-star recruit” isn’t just a line in his bio; it’s part of his DNA. And now that the draft frenzy has died down, his mission is crystal clear: prove himself right. He’ll have the infrastructure, the mentorship, and now, the weapons.

Lockett and Ridley on the outside. Burks returning healthy. A play-caller in Callahan who’s helped mold the likes of Burrow and Carr. It’s a new era in Nashville, and it begins with a thrower whose game mirrors his journey: unconventional, underappreciated, and undeniably electric.

All gas, no glam, Cam Ward’s workhorse mentality wins over Cristobal

While all eyes were on the red carpet vibes of the NFL Draft in Green Bay, Miami head coach Mario Cristobal had his sights set on one thing: showing love for his QB1, Cam Ward. Cristobal was in the building Thursday night to support Ward and a handful of Hurricanes, hoping to hear their names called, and when asked about his QB1, he didn’t hold back.

“He’s about as juiced as you can get. He’d rather skip all of this and go right to work, to be quite honest with you,” Cristobal said, flashing that signature coach’s grin. “That’s what he is. That’s what he’s always been. All of the conversations are about the next steps for him. I think people are gonna be really happy with what they see out of him.”

That’s vintage Ward—less about the limelight, more about the grind. No theatrics, just tunnel vision. And Cristobal, who’s seen his fair share of quarterbacks, couldn’t be more grateful for the way Ward carried the U.

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