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USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
How did Cam Ward play today? Grading Titans rookie QB vs. Falcons
Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, was back on the field Friday night in NFL preseason action. The top quarterback taken in this year's draft took the field for the second time in the preseason following his debut last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ward completed 5-of-8 passes for 67 yards in that contest as the Titans lost 29-7 on the road. Tennessee played on the road again Friday in another matchup with an NFC South foe: the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta lost its preseason opener 17-10 against the Detroit Lions. Ward played three series for the Titans before backup Brandon Allen took over halfway through the second quarter. Here's how the No. 1 overall pick played Friday night: Another rookie debut: Grading Giants rookie QB Jaxson Dart's pro debut vs. Bills Cam Ward grade: Titans rookie QB makes impressive throws This is a case in which the overall stat line doesn't tell the full story of how Ward played. His night ended in the second quarter after he completed just 2-of-7 passes for 42 yards. Considering his line from the Buccaneers game, that appears to be a regression from his debut. But Ward made multiple good throws, specifically on the Titans' opening drive. On second-and-6 from his own 10-yard line, Ward took the snap from the shotgun and rolled out to his right before finding fellow rookie Elic Ayomanor on a crossing route 20 yards downfield. Ayomanor was pushed out of bounds for a gain of 35 yards. Ward's next pass sailed out of bounds deep for Van Jefferson but running back Kalel Mullings was called for holding and the Titans offense was pushed back anyways. His next throw on second-and-13 was his best of the night. Ward took the snap from shotgun again and stepped up to layer a throw over multiple Falcons defenders to Jefferson. The veteran wideout couldn't hold on and the pass fell incomplete. Ward's next throw was a sidearm shot towards rookie wide receiver Chimere Dike but it fell incomplete to force a punt. On the next drive, Ward ended the quarter with a swing pass to Ayomanor that ultimately counted as a rushing attempt by the rookie wide receiver. Ward's next throw came on third-and-13 and he missed Dike on a low throw over the middle with pressure up the middle from Falcons defenders. Ward took the field for the Titans' third series on offense and missed Ayomanor on first-and-10 from his own 21-yard line. He threw it too high for the rookie wide receiver but kept it out of reach of any nearby defenders. He made his second and final completion of the night on the next play to wide receiver Bryce Oliver, who took the short pass seven yards to set up third-and-3. Ward couldn't connect with Ayomanor on a fade from the slot as Ayomanor faced physical coverage from Falcons cornerback Dee Alford. Ward made good decisions and showed good touch on most of his throws. If not for a bad drop by Jefferson and questionable contact by Alford, Ward's stats would look much different. He avoided pressure, layered the ball well and made the right decision on most of his seven throws.
USA Today
14-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Top rookie WR sleepers from the 2025 NFL Draft
Top rookie WR sleepers from the 2025 NFL Draft Every draft has late-round sleepers who become contributors in their rookie years, and 2025 likely will be no different. With rookie minicamps ended, this year's class now has to work in with the rest of the roster. The 2025 WR class was touted as not having a lot of stars, but having a lot of quality. Let's look at some late-round receivers with a chance of seeing the field early in 2025. Arian Smith, New York Jets No. 110 Smith is in one of the better situations for a late-round receiver. The Jets are resetting after hiring Aaron Glenn as head coach and Tanner Engstrand as offensive coordinator. Engstrand was Detroit's passing game coordinator the last two seasons, and the depth chart is not exactly stacked ahead of Smith. Garrett Wilson is New York's alpha, but Smith should work his way onto the field. He popped off for 48 catches, 817 yards, and four touchdowns in his final season at Georgia, and Smith ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at the Combine. He'll compete with Malachi Corley and Tyler Johnson for New York's WR4 role, but Allen Lazard could be on the move if a certain QB signs with the Pittsburgh Steelers (just a rumor). Jalen Royals, Kansas City Chiefs No. 133 What rookie wouldn't want to play with Patrick Mahomes? Royals was rated higher than his fourth-round placement suggests heading into the draft, but he heads to Kansas City with a chance to contribute. He posted a solid 2023 season at Utah State with 71 catches, 1,080 yards, and 15 touchdowns, and backed it up with a strong start to 2024 before injuring his foot. The Chiefs reached Super Bowl 59 despite a down year offensively. Xavier Worthy and a returning Rashee Rice will be the top WR options, but Royals has the build and tools to see the field over the rest of the Kansas City WR room. Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans No. 136 Ayomanor is a big-bodied, outside WR who has a chance to start for the Titans. After redshirting his true freshman season, Ayomanor had back-to-back productive years at Stanford, totaling 1,844 yards, 125 catches, and 12 touchdowns in his career. He'll need to work on his route running, but he has excellent size and good speed to be a threat. Calvin Ridley and the recently acquired Tyler Lockett are at the top of Tennessee's receiver room. Lockett will play in the slot, so Ayomanor needs to beat out Van Jefferson, Treylon Burks, and fellow fourth-round pick Chimere Dike. Tory Horton, WR, Seattle Seahawks No. 166 Horton steadily improved each of his first four years in college before a knee injury cut his 2024 season short. He gained over 1,100 yards and scored eight touchdowns in his first two seasons at Colorado State, and recovered from his knee injury to run a 4.41 40-yard dash at the Combine. The injury likely caused him to fall to the fifth round, but Horton is an experienced receiver with the build to step onto the field quickly. Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp are locks for WR1 and WR2 in Seattle, but Horton should be able to beat out Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
USA Today
30-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Elic Ayomanor named a Day 3 pick that could play big role for Tennessee Titans
Elic Ayomanor named a Day 3 pick that could play big role for Tennessee Titans By all accounts, the Tennessee Titans had a successful 2025 NFL draft. Not only were they able to grab their potential quarterback of the future, but they were also able to build around him and add some much-needed speed and athleticism to their arsenal. Their fourth-round selections of Chimere Dike, Gunnar Helm, and Elic Ayomanor marked a first in NFL history with a team taking three skill position players in a single round. However, it is one of those players that Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus (PFF) singled out as being a Day 3 pick who could play a significant role in 2025. WR Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans Ayomanor was a top-35 prospect on PFF's big board but fell to the Titans in the fourth round. Still, he has an opportunity to make an immediate impact in that receiving corps. Ayomanor is an excellent athlete, scoring in the 96th percentile of PFF's Game Athleticism Score metric. He's also a very cerebral player who dealt with a poor quarterback situation at Stanford. Now catching passes from No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward, Ayomanor could seize a starting receiver job in Tennessee by the end of the season. For readers of Titans Wire, Ayomanor was a player we identified early in the process who could be a fit for the Titans. He is a complete wide receiver who possesses the size, speed, and overall skill set that would make him a perfect complement to Calvin Ridley. A big receiver, he has enough speed to threaten teams deep while being a constant red zone threat. While he isn't a perfect receiver, he does need to work on making his hands more consistent and improving on his drops, but with his large catch radius and red zone prowess, he could take on a larger role as the season progresses. The Titans also have the benefit of easing both Ayomanor and Dike into the fold. The late addition of Tyler Lockett, joining Calvin Ridley and Van Jefferson, gives them some flexibility and allows the rookies to assimilate into the NFL and be ready when called upon.
Global News
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Global News
After being selected in NFL draft, Alberta's Elic Ayomanor tops final CFL scouting bureau list
Stanford receiver Elic Ayomanor topped the CFL scouting bureau's final top-20 list Monday. Ayomanor was third on the winter list released in January but vaulted into first as the top-ranked prospect for the CFL draft, which will be held Tuesday. However, the native of Medicine Hat, Alta., won't be the first player selected after being taken in the fourth round of the NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans on Saturday. View full screen View full screen View full screen Previous Image Next Image Close Modal Gallery The Calgary Stampeders have the first pick of the draft, one of four the club is scheduled to make in the first 20 selections. Story continues below advertisement Indian quarterback Kurtis Rourke, of Oakville, Ont., fell from top spot into second on the final list. But Rourke was also selected in the NFL draft, going in the seventh round Saturday to the San Francisco 49ers. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The CFL scouting bureau consists of league scouts, player-personnel directors and GMs with all nine of its clubs. It releases its rankings three times annually (fall, winter and spring). Toronto native Paris Shand, a defensive lineman at Louisiana State, moved from second to third. But after being bypassed in the NFL draft, Shand joined the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent. Wyoming linebacker Connor Shay was ranked fourth after not cracking the winter list while Montana receiver Keelan White remained unchanged at No. 5. Shay will reportedly attend the Green Bay Packers rookie camp. Story continues below advertisement Rounding out the top 10, in order, are: offensive lineman Tiger Shanks (UNLV); receiver Damien Alford (Utah); defensive lineman Darien Newell (Queens); defensive lineman Hayden Harris (Montana); and offensive lineman Christopher Fortin (UConn). Laurier quarterback Taylor Elgersma, the '24 Hec Crighton Trophy winner, continued to rise. He moved up to 14th after being ranked 20th on the winter list. Thirteen of the top-20 prospects played at NCAA schools, with the remaining seven being at U Sports universities.
Winnipeg Free Press
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Stanford receiver Ayomanor tops final CFL scouting bureau top-20 prospect list
TORONTO – Stanford receiver Elic Ayomanor topped the CFL scouting bureau's final top-20 list Monday. Ayomanor was third on the winter list released in January but vaulted into first as the top-ranked prospect for the CFL draft, which will be held Tuesday. However, the native of Medicine Hat, Alt., won't be the first player selected after being taken in the fourth round of the NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans on Saturday. The Calgary Stampeders have the first pick of the draft, one of four the club is scheduled to make in the first 20 selections. Indian quarterback Kurtis Rourke, of Oakville, Ont., fell from top spot into second on the final list. But Rourke was also selected in the NFL draft, going in the seventh round Saturday to the San Francisco 49ers. The CFL scouting bureau consists of league scouts, player-personnel directors and GMs with all nine of its clubs. It releases its rankings three times annually (fall, winter and spring). Toronto native Paris Shand, a defensive lineman at Louisiana State, moved from second to third. But after being bypassed in the NFL draft, Shand joined the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent. During Elections Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election. Wyoming linebacker Connor Shay was ranked fourth after not cracking the winter list while Montana receiver Keelan White remained unchanged at No. 5. Shay will reportedly attend the Green Bay Packers rookie camp. Rounding out the top 10, in order, are: offensive lineman Tiger Shanks (UNLV); receiver Damien Alford (Utah); defensive lineman Darien Newell (Queens); defensive lineman Hayden Harris (Montana); and offensive lineman Christopher Fortin (UConn). Laurier quarterback Taylor Elgersma, the '24 Hec Crighton Trophy winner, continued to rise. He moved up to 14th after being ranked 20th on the winter list. Thirteen of the top-20 prospects played at NCAA schools, with the remaining seven being at U Sports universities. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2025.
