2026 is where Cam Ward has to turn projection into reality. His new head coach want's to learn him more before identifying what he can become truly elite at, but I think I know exactly what it has to be.
Can Cam Ward be an elite NFL quarterback?
It's not unreasonable to point to his size, athleticism, and accuracy and wonder if it's possible. I asked his new head coach Robert Saleh about this at OTA's, and he give a half-answer after saying he wants to learn the QB more. Here is what he did offer up, as well as what I believe the actual answer is.
On the heels of a couple days worth of Cam Ward concern in the news cycle, Saleh was asked about how pleased he is with his QB so far.
"I think he's been great," coach said plainly. "This is the time of year where he's got to try some things, he's got to see what he can and can't do, and then you mix that in with a whole new scheme. I think it's-I mean I'll put myself out there. I think it's very safe to say that we've got a really good quarterback and we're in really good hands."
Strong words!
I followed that answer up with a more pointed question about high level traits. If Cam becomes what the Titans think he can be, what will be the elite trait that he hangs his hat on?
"I don't know if I want to answer that one right now because I'm still learning him too," Saleh deflected. "But I could tell you just visually," he continued, "just being out here with him, he's got an unbelievable mindset. He is fearless. He really can move on to the next play no matter what happens the play before. His arm talent is ridiculous. So, as he continues to develop-and his communication with (Brian) Daboll too, like he's been awesome in that regard. But he's a playmaker. In all our move-the-ball periods, when we go unscripted, I think that's where he shines the most and I think he shines in those moments because he's just playing football, you know? So, it's exciting to see him kind of develop through these OTAs and it's exciting to see where he excels during the course of practice. But once training camp gets going, I think we'll really see where he's at."
This deflection was interesting, but largely unimportant. It came across as earnest to me as the person whom he was addressing. I appreciated him offering praise of an off-field quality as consolation, and I'll be sure to circle back to this question again in August when he's had time to learn his player better.
But while Saleh may not be ready to answer that question today, I am. Let's take what I call my five sticky quarterback elements. Four of them are on-field traits: field vision, pocket awareness, accuracy, and physical ability. The fifth is everything off the field: leadership, reliability, mentality, and alpha traits.
The best in the league have at least a couple of these in spades that you can point to as truly elite parts of their game. Cam's profile has never and I think will never be elite in the accuracy department. For him, accuracy is about reaching an acceptable level. He can be average. He can be slightly above average. Mastery of the offense and technique improvement will get him over the hump if he makes reasonable progress in those areas.
He really only gets half marks in the physical category. In terms of size and athleticism, he is no Josh Allen . That's never going to be an only element of his game. He's not Lamar Jackson either, so he's not going to be running past or through anybody. But when it comes to his arm, both in terms of strength and in terms of talent, that can be an elite part of Cam Ward's game. He has the arm strength bordering on arm arrogance. He also has the unique ability to complete passes from a variety of arm angles that many NFL quarterbacks can't. But while that can be an elite part of his game, that isn't an area that can totally carry a quarterback on it's own. Not by any means.
Here's where we get to what he can truly be elite at, and it's what he will hang his hat on if he becomes one of the best in the league in my opinion. You can generally lump it into a category titled feel . Because both his field vision and pocket awareness show flashes of elite ability. We saw that on his college tape, and we saw it in his rookie year too. He has a quick trigger, and he clearly sees the field well both pre-and post-snap.
He is somebody that, if given the time to really master an offense and figure out the NFL, will be a very high-level processor. And his proprioception in the pocket can be elite too. His peripheral vision and "third eye feel" behind him is something that allows him to extend plays, make up for the mistakes of his protection, and buy himself time in ways the other quarterback simply can't.
If he can be a truly high level passer in terms of field vision and pocket awareness, with the added benefit of a very high-level arm, then being merely acceptable in the accuracy department does not have to keep him from being an elite quarterback.
That's not to say that he ever will be elite, or will even work out in the NFL. This year is going to tell us a lot about what his future holds, and he still has a lot to prove. But to me, his path to superstardom is clear. Now all he has to do is realize it.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Cam Ward's Elite QB Trait: Robert Saleh wasn't ready to name it, but I am ahead of Titans QB's second season
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