There was legitimate speculation early in the 2025 NFL Draft process as to whether the No. 1 overall pick should be Miami's Cam Ward or Colorado's Shedeur Sanders.
It obviously didn't remain the discussion, but it really was there. And it was the Tennessee Titans, who held the top pick, who had to wade through those waters the deepest.
They arrived at Ward as their choice.
Sanders went at pick No. 144 to the Cleveland Browns.
Sure, it's easy to say now that it should never have been a debate. But it truly was, which made Sanders' fall to day three of the draft all the more shocking.
The Titans felt they picked the right guy, their franchise quarterback.
MORE: Josh Allen's 6-TD day leads Bills to epic bounceback win
Ward hasn't been great so far.
But he hasn't been whatever Sanders was in his NFL debut, which came Sunday against the Ravens after Dillon Gabriel exited with a concussion.
Sanders was 4-for-16 passing. He threw an interception and was sacked twice.
He looked, in a simple way of putting it, not ready. And really, he worked worse than not ready. The concerns that showed up through his pre-draft evaluations were on full display.
It makes it a wonder that Ward and Sanders were ever viewed as top pick competition at all. The rookie QB who has played the best is Jaxson Dart, who the Giants got with the 25th pick.
But for the Titans, it eventually became all about Ward. And right now, that looks a whole lot better than if they had arrived at Sanders.
More NFL news:
- NFL broadcaster joked that Tua Tagovailoa is on drugs
- Watch Steelers' 300-pound Darnell Washington hurdle defenders
- Sean Tucker had an epic career game
- Why Shedeur Sanders is in at QB for the Browns
- Why the Rams let Cooper Kupp leave for the Seahawks
- Jalen Ramsey ejected for punching Ja'Marr Chase