Former Miami quarterback Cam Ward is learning the cost of being the No. 1 overall draft pick as the Tennessee Titans just dropped to 0-4 after a loss 26-0 to the Houston Texans on Sunday. Ward certainly wasn't mincing words in his post-game press conference either, as his frustration is certainly showing early on in his NFL career.
The Titans lost to a Houston Texans team that was also winless coming into the game, and has struggled heavily on offense. However, that didn't seem to matter as the Titans couldn't even get a point on the board, being shut out for the first time this season.
"If we keep it a buck right now, we ass," Ward frustratingly said in his post-game press conference. "We have dropped a quarter of our [expletive] games, and we have yet to do anything, so we have to lock in."
#Titans QB Cam Ward is clearly frustrated with the lack of production on offense starting with himself. "If we keep it a buck right now, we ass." pic.twitter.com/ApQzABZBG2
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) September 28, 2025
Now, Ward isn't trying to shy away from any of the blame here; he knows that a portion of it falls squarely on his own shoulders. He said it comes from interceptions, to penalties, and even to bad balls thrown by him.
Ward knows he has to lock in, but the rest of the team has to as well; everyone in all three phases of the game has to play better if the Titans want to get their first win of the season and Ward his first win of his NFL career.
"We have to play together, we have not played together this year," Ward said.
Unfortunately for Ward, this is typically the tough road for the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Sometimes it works out and a team sees significant improvement quickly, see Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals; however, a lot of times, that is not always the case.
Last season, Caleb Williams was taken No. 1 overall by the Chicago Bears, and his team did not make the playoffs last season. His head coach got fired, and they are now 2-2 on the season. Bryce Young was the No. 1 overall pick in 2023 by the Carolina Panthers, and that season the Panthers went 2-15. His head coach was fired, then in 2024, the Panthers went 5-12, and they are currently 1-3 on the season.
The reality is that the No. 1 overall pick goes to a team that had that selection for a reason. Unless a trade is involved, that was the worst team from the year prior, and that typically results in a couple of rebuild years.
So, Ward just needs to be patient and know that success will hopefully come at some point, but right now, it is learning how to play in the trenches.