Miami quarterback Cam Ward and Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the top two signal-callers in the 2025 NFL Draft, have the same quarterback coach. They were working out in preparation for the NFL Scouting Combine when they got into an argument as to who the better player was, and whether either of them was the “generational” talent that Tennessee Titans said they wouldn’t pass on at No.1.
Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders Argue Over Who Is Generational Talent
It isn’t immediately clear who Titans President of Football Operations Chad Brinker was referring to when he hypothesized about a generational prospect atop the draft. He could have been referring to Ward or Sanders, but Colorado corner/receiver Travis Hunter has earned that praise and Penn State edge rusher could be the first non-quarterback, too.
“We all know the truth,” Ward told his counterpart.
“What? Trav going to be first,” Sanders quipped.
Hunter was a two-way star at Colorado and excelled at both cornerback and wide receiver. He caught his passes from Sanders, who was his teammate dating back to Jackson State.
“They say, you are a generational talent,” Sanders said. “But, I am the generational talent.”
The two went back and forth saying that they were both generational as they prepared for their workout in Dallas.
“Generational is once every 100 years,” Ward said.
“You can be generational, but not legendary and won’t win any Super Bowls,” Sanders said.
Ward then responded he was going to win “four or five of them.”
Finally, Sanders said, “I’m tired of the comparisons.”
The comparisons have only just begun. It’s a long way until April’s NFL Draft, a process complete with the Scouting Combine, pro days, and endless speculation.
Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward argue about who’s a Generational Talent 😂
Cam : “We all know the truth”
Shedeur : “What ? Trav going to be 1st”
🎥 : @DeionSandersJr pic.twitter.com/jHh3sUZBUD
— We Coming 🦬 (@SkoBuffsGoBuffs) January 24, 2025
The Titans hold the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. Between now and late April, there will be non-stop conversations about how Tennessee should spend the selection.
Many believe that the team will be in the quarterback market, as the team struggled mightily with the combination of Will Levis (No. 34 with a D- rating in PFN’s QB+ metric this past season) and Mason Rudolph under center and would have their pick of the litter in this year’s class.
However, Brinker’s recent comment suggests that a mediocre quarterback class won’t move the Titans off a true superstar.
Could Travis Hunter Be Atop the Tennessee Titans’ Big Board?
While Brinker will not be the one making the selection, as president of football operations, it can be assumed he will have a say in who Tennessee prefers
“We won’t pass on a generational talent with the first pick in the NFL Draft,” Brinker said. “We won’t do that.” The top prospect on PFN’s 2025 NFL Draft Big Board is Hunter.
Here is what PFN’s Dalton Miller had to say about the Heisman Trophy winner:
“Travis Hunter is one of one. If we had allowed ourselves to split the player into a cornerback and wide receiver, he would have ranked first and 12th, respectively. He’s the top cornerback in the NFL Draft, and he’s the second-best receiver. His rare ball skills as a wide receiver translate to the other side of the ball, and he’s played with more physicality in 2024 than in 2023.
“He won’t play full-time on both sides at the next level. Teams must decide if he’s more valuable to them as a full-time defensive or offensive player. In my opinion, it would be malpractice to take away a potentially generational defensive prospect from that side of the ball entirely. A ‘best of both worlds’ scenario would be playing 80-100% of the team’s defensive snaps while also playing 10-20% of the offensive snaps.”
While there is a need at quarterback, Brinker’s words signal that if a quarterback is not the top player on their board, the Titans will not reach for one. They might view a quarterback as a “generational talent,” but Hunter’s skill set aligns more with Brinker’s comments.
Titans GM Mike Borgonzi Pushes Back on the Titans’ Draft Plans
While Brinker’s comments may have hinted at Hunter being the top player on the team’s board, general manager Mike Borgonzi kept things much closer to the vest.
“We’re very early in those discussions,” Borgonzi said about the No. 1 overall pick. “I’m coming into this with an open mind. We’re going to evaluate every situation to make the best decision with that pick.”
Borgonzi’s comments pushed back on those made by Brinker. With the draft still three months away, being less open about the team’s board and plans with the pick is understandable. There is still work to be done, and this was the general manager’s introductory presser — the board isn’t close to complete.
While the team’s view on each player could change over the coming months, it is also not a guarantee that the team will stick and pick at No. 1. Borgonzi even hinted at the possibility of trading down.
“That’s always the goal: to get as many picks in the top 100 as you can,” Borgonzi said, adding that “draft picks are our biggest form of currency.”
In addition to discussing the draft, Borgonzi was asked about the state of the roster as it is currently constructed, saying, “There’s some talent on this roster, but we’re a three-win football team right now, so that’s not good enough.”
The team added Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard, L’Jarius Sneed, Lloyd Cushenberry, and Kenneth Murray, among others, in free agency last year. They also have JC Latham, Peter Skoronski, and Jeffery Simmons, as pieces to build around in the trenches.
While the team will build its true foundation through the draft, they do have some cap space to work with. The Titans sit at No. 12 in the league in cap space, with $44.2 million, and could look to free agency to plug some of the other holes on their roster.
Once free agency unfolds, there will be a clearer picture of what positional groups Tennessee will likely look to address atop the 2025 NFL Draft.