Cam Ward Names His Preferred NFL Draft Landing Spot

03/18/2025 12:03 PM

Cam Ward doesn't get to pick where he'll go in the 2025 NFL Draft - unless he pulls an Eli Manning, of course - but he's made it clear where he'd like to play at some point.

The former Houston Cougars and Miami Hurricanes standout quarterback is projected to go in the top three of the 2025 NFL Draft. Ward, a standout performer at the college level, is projected by most to go No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans in the first round. 

However, it sounds like Ward would prefer to be somewhere else. If it was up to the quarterback, he'd be playing near his home state of Texas.

Ward was in New Orleans, Louisiana on Monday to receive the Manning Award. The award, given to college football's best quarterback, was presented at The Superdome in New Orleans on Monday.

The All-American quarterback made it clear that he would love to play for the New Orleans Saints. Ward grew up in nearby Texas, watching Drew Brees play for the NFC South franchise.

"I loved watching [quarterback] Drew Brees and [receiver Marques] Colston out there," Ward said, via Jeff Duncan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "It would be a dream of mine to play for them, if I get a chance someday. But that's not really my focus right now."

The Saints would probably have to trade up to get him. They have the ninth overall pick.

New Orleans coaches did meet with Ward at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. 

"It was a great meeting," Ward said. "If you get a chance to go play for a Super Bowl-winning coach like coach [Kellen] Moore. He knows how to dial up the playbook. . . . The biggest thing I took away from that meeting was that you just have to be prepared at all times, whether you go in as a starter or you go in as a backup. You never know when your number is going to be called."

The Titans could be open to a trade for the No. 1 overall pick, so maybe it's still possible.