Cam Ward isn't getting benched, but should Titans consider drafting a QB in 2027? History offers clues — SkimNews
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- Cam Ward ranks tied for 51st out of 56 first-round QBs through 22 starts in EPA per dropback (-0.15) and 52nd in yards per attempt (5.8), with an unusually low 1.4% interception rate but just a 2.6% touchdown rate
- Robert Saleh confirmed Ward will not be benched after Sunday's 26-3 loss to Houston dropped Tennessee to 0-5, leaving Ward at 3-19 across 22 career starts
- Of six first-round QBs whose first 22 starts tracked Ward's struggles, only Bryce Young (EPA from -0.20 to +0.02) and David Carr climbed into positive EPA territory over their next 22 starts; Alex Smith actually regressed before resurging later
- Ward's college FRED score jumped 42.5 points to 49.3 after his 2024 Miami season, still trailing the pre-final-season marks of Josh Allen (51.6) and Patrick Mahomes (55.7)
- The 2027 QB class is viewed as historically thin, with only Julian Sayin entering the season with a FRED score above 50; the author's current top four are Darian Mensah, Trinidad Chambliss, Drew Mestemaker, and **Jayden Maiava
Why it matters: If Ward plays out the season, Tennessee will have 34 starts of tape by draft time — the threshold the league typically uses to judge whether a young QB is the answer — and history shows that even notable improvement (five of six comparable QBs improved) almost never produces a franchise passer, leaving the Titans likely facing a 2027 draft where no clear upgrade exists.
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