A recent post by NFL insider Ari Meirov claiming, “I can’t remember the last time a No. 1 overall pick QB had less media coverage and fanfare than Cam Ward is getting right now,” has resonated widely and points to an ongoing narrative about the quiet rise of Miami product Cam Ward in Tennessee.
I can’t remember the last time a No. 1 overall pick QB had less media coverage and fanfare than Cam Ward is getting right now. https://t.co/bmCbXIfoI9 pic.twitter.com/Cx2GrHOnuZ
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 24, 2025
Despite being the No. 1 overall pick, Ward has drawn notably muted attention from major outlets. For example (something all Miami fans will be able to recall), ESPN’s broadcast of the draft featured extensive coverage of quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who ultimately fell to the fifth round, while giving brief attention to Ward when he was selected. That trend has continued to present day.
NFL analyst Kyle Brandt — who has been a major supporter of Ward in Tennessee so far — echoed the sentiment on Good Morning Football a while ago, calling Ward “the most disrespected No. 1 overall pick." He also made the prediction that Ward will have a bigger impact as a rookie than Travis Hunter.
Ward’s early performances in Tennessee minicamps have been underreported compared to other rookie quarterbacks entering similar situations. Titans’ defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons added internal validation and gave credit to Ward for his effectiveness through offseason camp.
Part of the media silence may stem from Ward not being part of a highly touted QB draft class. Jaxson Dart was the only other QB taken in the first round and the rest of the signal callers were sprinkled around in the rest of the draft. In the current era of NFL football, the QB position is the most important on the field and it isn't even close. So, if the class doesn't have a definitive No. 2 — although some would argue that it is Dart — then Ward seems less deserving of No. 1 overall praise, especially since the Titans were QB-needy in the first place.
Ward’s journey from zero-star recruit at Incarnate Word to award winner at Miami gives way to his underdog story. It becomes one that is possibly lost amid modern media trends favoring hype cycles and polarized quarterback narratives. With Will Levis now out for the season due to injury, Ward will have an immediate chance to put the football world on notice and show that he was worthy of media coverage all along.