NASHVILLE, Tenn. – If Cam Ward is what the Titans think he will be, he should elevate a lot of players around him throughout his career.
But he certainly needs more talent around him than recent quarterbacks have had
We’re familiar with how the franchise’s attempts to build around young quarterbacks have failed, and part of the reason is an inability to maximize their chances to supplement them sufficiently.
Let’s compare what Vince Young, Jake Locker, Marcus Mariota and Will Levis had around them in their first seasons to what Ward will have.
2006 -- Vince Young
WRs: Drew Bennett, Brandon Jones, Bobby Wade, Roydell Williams, David Givens
RBs: Travis Henry, LenDale White, Chris Brown
TEs: Bo Scaife, Ben Troupe, Ben Hartsock
OL: Michael Roos, Jacob Bell, Kevin Mawae, Benji Olson, David Stewart
Young stats: 13 starts, 15 games, 184-357 (51.5 percent), 2,199, 12 TDs, 13 INTs, 25 sacks, 66.7 passer rating
2011 -- Jake Locker
WRs: Nate Washington, Damien Williams, Lavelle Hawkins, Kenny Britt, Marc Mariani, Donnie Avery
RBs: Chris Johnson, Javon Ringer, Jamie Harper, Ahmard Hall
TEs: Jared Cook, Craig Stevens, Daniel Graham
OL: Michael Roos, Leroy Harris, Eugene Amano, Jake Scott, David Stewart
Locker stats: No starts, five games: 34-66 (51.5 percent), 542, 4 TDs, 0 INTS, 5 sacks, 99.4 passer rating
2015 -- Marcus Mariota
WRs: Kendall Wright, Harry Douglas, Dorial Green-Beckham, Justin Hunter
RBs: Antonio Andrews, Dexter McCluster, David Cobb, Bishop Sankey
TEs: Delanie Walker, Anthony Fasano, Craig Stevens
OL: Taylor Lewan, Byron Bell/Quinton Spain, Brian Schwenke/Andy Gallik, Chance Warmack, Jerimiah Poutasi/Bell
12 starts, 12 games: 230-370 (62.2 percent), 2,818 yards, 19 TDs, 10 INTs, 38 sacks, 91.5 passer rating
2023 -- Will Levis
WRs: DeAndre Hopkins, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Chris Moore, Treylon Burks, Kyle Philips
RBs: Derrick Henry, Tyjae Spears
TEs: Chig Okonkwo, Josh Whyle
OL: Andre Dillard, Peter Skoronski, Aaron Brewer, Daniel Brunskill, Dillon Radunz/ Chris Hubbard
Nine games, nine starts: 140-255 (58.4 percent), 1,808, 8 TDs, 4 INTs, 28 sacks, 843.2 passer ratings
2025 -- Cam Ward
WRs: Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett, Treylon Burks, Van Jefferson, Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, Bryce Oliver, Xavier Restrepo
RBs: Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, Kalel Mullings
TEs: Chig Okonkwo, Gunnar Helm, John Whyle, Thomas Odukoya, David Martin-Robinson
OL: Dan Moore, Peter Skoronski, Lloyd Cushenberry, Kevin Zeitler, LC Latham
Best receivers: Ward
It’s based on a lot of promise, but also on how bad the groups for the other quarterbacks have been. They are listed in order of production in that season. Damien Williams and Lavelle Hawkins as second and third for Locker? Mariota’s rookie group was horrible. Hopkins was big for Levis and NWI chipped in with three TDs but no other wideout saw the end zone.
Best running backs: Levis
Derrick Henry ran for 1,167 yards and 12 touchdowns in his last season for the Titans, with Tyjae Spears adding another 453 yards and two scores. When Matt Hasselbeck was the starting QB, Chris Johnson topped 1,000 in Locker’s rookie season. Mariota had the worst starting running back in the history of the Titans in Andrews.
How close now? Could a Tony Pollard-Tyjae Spears-Kalel Mullings trio running behind a upgraded offensive line match the production of the 2023 backfield? Sure, it’s possible. But Henry was a generational back, and there isn’t one of those on the roster now, so the 2025 team isn’t going to rank as better at running back.
Best tight ends: Mariota
Walker is the best tight end the Titans have had. In 2015, he topped 1,000 yards receiving and had six TDs for a three-win team. Fasano was a true pro, and Stevens a top blocker. They each chipped in with a pair of scores.
How close now? There was hope when Okonkwo was drafted in the fourth round in 2022 that he could be Walker-like, but his production has not approached that level and now the Titans are looking to feature receivers more.
Best offensive line: Young
Three high-quality players in Roos, Olson and Stewart with a Hall of Famer in Mawae at center under Mike Munchak as the position coach. It was a different era when good offensive lines were to be expected and were a regular feature of the team.
How close now? These Titans have invested a great deal of resources into the line. It’s got two first-round picks, a big free-agent contract at left tackle in Dan Moore, the guy who was the best free-agent center in 2024 in Lloyd Cushenberry (though coming off injury) and a new, wily veteran at right guard in Kevin Zeitler. The group has a lot to prove before we’re going to put it in the category with the people on the 2006 line.
