Titans’ presumed No. 1 pick Cam Ward ranks below 17 other NFL Draft prospects

Cam Ward is pretty much a shoo-in to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to the Tennessee Titans.

But he's not the best player in the draft.

That's how ESPN's Jeff Legwold sums it up. In fact, Legwold ranks 17 draft prospects ahead of Ward.

There's a clear reason for this. The importance of quarterback and its relative scarcity means that QB is almost always drafted higher than its raw talent ranking.

Ward isn't a generational talent in a draft with a few guys who definitely are. But because NFL teams have to prioritize QBs, and he's the best one, he'll almost certainly wind up with the Titans at No. 1.

Here are the 17 players Legwold ranks ahead of Ward as draft prospects:

1. Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
2. Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
3. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
4. Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
5. Walter Nolan, DT, Ole Miss
6. Will Campbell, OT, LSU
7. Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
8. Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
9. Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
10. Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
11. Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
12. Jalon Walker, Edge, Georgia
13. Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
14. Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia
15. Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
16. Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
17. Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

For reference, Colorado's Shedeur Sanders is the next quarterback on the board, as Legwold's No. 32 draft prospect. He, like Ward and potentially a few others, will also go in the first round.

Positional priority and scarcity is one of the things that makes the NFL Draft so tricky to call. Do teams draft the best player available at any position, or a so-called premium position, or do they draft strictly for need?

That's the judgment that gets made every year, by every organization.

And at least based on every report, it looks like the Titans will take the most premium position's top prospect to fill their QB void. They'll leave the most talented players in the draft for pick No. 2 and beyond.

MORE NFL NEWS:

• Colin Kaepernick wants to return to the NFL
• Steelers linked to $180 million QB in lieu of Aaron Rodgers
• Browns predicted to stun NFL by adding top QB also wanted by the Steelers
• Chiefs-Dolphins wild trade pitch involves Tyreek Hill-Xavier Worthy swap
• Cowboys facing a 'nightmare' draft scenario
• George Pickens could be traded to totally ironic destination
• Ex-Colts kicker Rodrigo Blankenship making case for NFL return
• Raiders hint at final Ashton Jeanty decision
• The wild connection between Brock Purdy and Tyler Shough
• 49ers-Titans wild trade proposal solves Brock Purdy, Aaron Rodgers sagas in one move