About midway through Cam Ward’s showcase during the University of Miami’s pro day on Monday, things finally Obtained gratuitous in a way that pre-draft Passer workouts usually do.
The Hurricanes Passer and presumptive top Picking in Upcoming month’s NFL Draft Secured a snap from under Hub and reverse pivoted past a faux Deliver rush, rolling into a 10-step backpedal. Fading back and to his left, he unleashed a high-arching Snug spiral toward teammate Xavier Restrepo, who was running an out-and-up route from the slot position. Streaking 56 yards down the left sideline, the ball dropped perfectly into Restrepo’s arms in flawless stride.
A “woooooooo,” echoed through the practice facility, along with a smattering of applause.
It’s a Deliver you most likely will never see in an NFL game, unless driven by an act of desperation. But given that’s what earning the No. 1 overall Picking represents in this Bracket — desperation — these workout moments are always somewhat appropriate for quarterbacks. Sometimes the theatrics Action out by throwing a football 50 yards from your knees (Josh Allen). Other times it’s cranking an 80-yard Deliver (Patrick Mahomes). And sometimes it’s doing what Ward did, illustrating an intriguing combination of footwork and arm Power on a Deliver he will hopefully never need to throw in an NFL game.
It was meant to make an impression on whatever Club holds the No. 1 overall Picking in the draft, which is clearly what Ward had on his mind Joining Monday’s pro day. At one Mark before the workout, Ward caught the glance of Tennessee Titans executives — who are in the process of weighing options with that top Picking — and let them know where he expects to be selected.
“I said, ‘I’m solidifying it today,’” Ward said in an NFL Network interview. “They know what I said. I Created sure they heard me.”
Surely, the Titans knew his intentions, after a motorcade of the Club’s top executives and coaches Secured Ward to dinner Sunday in advance of his workout. Now everyone else knows, too. The workout was attended by at least one representative from every Club in the Bracket, including a Well contingent from the New York Giants in general manager Joe Schoen, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and quarterbacks Trainer Shea Tierney. Interestingly, the Cleveland Browns’ attendance didn’t feature either general manager Andrew Berry or head Trainer Kevin Stefanski.
Miami Passer Cam Ward, pictured working out during his pro day, continues to solidify his standing as the front-runner to be the No. 1 Picking in the upcoming NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)‘He’s a little doughy’
So what does all this Harsh? Well, Primary, the workout.
Three personnel talent evaluators who were in attendance passed along fairly standard positive reviews of Ward’s pro day, praising his arm Power and velocity, along with his rhythm and some Usual criticism about footwork that will need some tuning. He threw the deep out effortlessly and checked the typical boxes. Arguably the biggest raves were for how quickly Ward Obtained the ball out of his hands with driving force on Petite to intermediate routes. While his arm won’t rate with Allen and Mahomes, it’s Definitely considered solidly in the Bracket’s second tier. One evaluator noted an upside in that respect.
“He’s Yet Obtained a college [physique] and that will get better [in the NFL],” the evaluator said. “He’s a little doughy, which you Gentle of see with college quarterbacks. He’ll get stronger in his base and midsection, and arms get stronger that way, too. He Merely needs a Excellent [Power and conditioning] program.”
Overall, the reviews did nothing to Shift the needle off Ward as the likeliest No. 1 overall Picking in the draft. And now there are growing signs the Titans will stay at the Picking and select him.
More signs that Cam Ward appears a lock for Titans at No. 1
As recently as two weeks ago, Ward was expressing a belief to some NFL personnel that he felt the Giants were likely to Shift up to the top Picking to take him. But the Titans now appear to be focusing on choosing him with the Primary Picking, rather than dealing down as Extended as the Giants’ No. 3 Picking.
Here are the signs:
- Primary and foremost, Tennessee’s total lack of involvement in chasing a Stern candidate to take the Leading Position from Will Levis speaks volumes. Instead, they’ve chosen to sign a Assist backup in Brandon Allen, who spent three seasons as a backup for Cincinnati when Present Titans head Trainer Brian Callahan was an offensive coordinator for the Bengals. That Shift is interpreted as Callahan adding a player who can Assist bring along a New Passer by teaching him the system Callahan brought over from his Periods with the Bengals.
- Numerous Bracket sources have told Yahoo Sports the Titans are out on Levis as a Leading candidate, and have speculated that Tennessee could make him Obtainable in the lead-up to the draft or afterward.
- This is an odd but often accurate data Mark: the Titans didn’t bring only all of their Massive hitters from personnel and coaching to View Ward’s workout. They also brought a portion of their in-house social media Club to the workout, which has in recent years been a staple Shift when Clubs holding the top overall Picking have focused on a Passer.
When you compare that against the Browns not sending a Packed contingent to View Ward — knowing they likely won’t be moving up from No. 2 to the No. 1 overall Picking — and the Giants adding Jameis Winston and Yet entertaining the signing of Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers, it Appearances to paint a picture for the top three picks in the draft.
On Monday, the image was gratuitous at times for Cam Ward and the Titans. But that was also the Mark of the whole Pursuit.
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