Cam Ward enters 2026 with a new staff around him, better pieces in place, and a ranking that says plenty about where the league sees him right now. FanSided’s recent list of all 92 quarterbacks on active rosters put the Tennessee Titans passer at No. 23 overall, landing him in the fifth tier, labeled “game manager.”
That slot puts Ward ahead of Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, and Bryce Young, but still behind Daniel Jones and Kyler Murray in the same tier. For a quarterback coming off a rough rookie year, it’s the kind of placement that can be read a few different ways. Either way, Ward is surely aiming to be better than the 23rd-best quarterback in the NFL this season.
The Titans clearly did their part to help him get there. Brian Daboll was hired as the new offensive coordinator, and he spent the offseason shaping the offense around Ward. The system is built on built-in answers, short-yardage checkdowns, and zone beaters, all designed to make Ward more efficient.
Of course, no scheme can hide a lack of talent around the quarterback for long. That was the burden Ward carried as a rookie, and Tennessee worked hard to avoid a repeat. The team signed Wan’Dale Robinson in free agency and used the No. 4 overall pick on Carnell Tate, giving Ward a much stronger receiver group.
There’s also reason to think the ground game and line can help out. The offensive line could be a surprising strength, especially in run blocking, while the Titans believe in Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears at running back. Pollard and Spears, along with tight ends Gunnar Helm and Daniel Bellinger, are expected to give Ward plenty of QB-friendly options.
Ward’s first season told the story of why the ranking landed where it did. He was sacked a league-high 55 times behind a terrible offensive line, and Tennessee stumbled to a 3-14 record for a second straight year. Brian Callahan was fired midway through that season, and Ward’s numbers and circumstances clearly shaped the view from FanSided’s panel of 50 experts.
Still, Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi spent the offseason trying to make sure Ward’s environment looks nothing like it did in 2025. Now the pressure shifts to the No. 1 overall pick from a year ago to learn the new system quickly, build chemistry with his weapons, and make the most of the help Tennessee has given him.
If that happens, Ward should be in a very different spot on this list next offseason.
In Other News...
Titans Offense Just Got A National Verdict Fans Will Hate
USA TODAYs preseason offense rankings did not offer much comfort for a Titans group trying to turn the page. Tennessee landed 31st, a blunt reminder of how far the unit still has to climb, even after a busy offseason aimed at making the attack more functional around quarterback Cam Ward. The front office has tried to address the obvious pain points, bringing in receivers Wan'Dale Robinson and Carnell Tate while also giving the offensive line a boost with rookie Fernando Carmona and a new extension for Peter Skoronski.
There is at least a case to be made that the Titans are not starting from the same place they were a year ago. Ward remains the starter, and the pieces around him look better on paper than they did last season, which is exactly why the ranking stings a little more. It is one thing to be underestimated in the preseason and another to have a national outlet look at the roster and still place the offense near the bottom, leaving Tennessee with a long way to go before the actual production matches the offseason optimism. [Read more 🡒]
Robert Saleh's Titans Face An Uncomfortable AFC South Reality
Robert Saleh is stepping into a familiar but uneasy Tennessee Titans job, with the team set to welcome its third head coach in three years in 2026. The move comes after four straight losing seasons since 2021, and while there is an expectation that the Titans can take a step forward, the broader picture around them is not exactly forgiving.
Garrett Podell of CBS Sports still has Tennessee pegged to finish last in the AFC South, which is a reminder of how steep the climb remains. Houston, Jacksonville and Indianapolis all bring more established competition in the division, leaving Saleh and the Titans with more than just an internal reset to manage as they try to change the trajectory. [Read more 🡒]
Calvin Ridley Faces A Different Titans Reality This Season
The Titans head into this season with one of the youngest rosters in the league, and that reality is shaping the wide receiver room in a noticeable way. Calvin Ridley, now on a reworked deal that lowered his cap hit, is no longer being slotted in as the clear centerpiece. Instead, he is expected to work behind younger options like Wan'Dale Robinson and Carnell Tate, while rookie Elic Ayomanor has also pushed himself into the conversation as a possible primary target.
For Ridley, it is a different kind of role than the one he has carried in previous stops, especially after injuries cost him significant time last season. Even so, the Titans still have reasons to value what he brings beyond the stat sheet. His experience gives a young offense some needed steadiness, and his presence should matter in a room built more around development than certainty. [Read more 🡒]