The first pick has his first contact.
Cam Ward officially signed his four-year, $48.7 million fully guaranteed rookie deal with the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday, the team announced. It ensures that the quarterback will be ready for all the offseason activities that await in advance of the upcoming season.
The former Miami Hurricanes quarterback inked the biggest contract in the class after being taken with the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Now, Ward can focus his attention on the field with the contract hurdle cleared.
He doesn’t face a ton of resistance to get the starting job, with Will Levis being the only potential threat on the roster. Head coach Brian Callahan said Tuesday that the pair are splitting reps in practice with the competition looming.
Ward is still in the driver’s seat to land the starting gig, however, especially with the lack of a proven veteran starter on the team.
Here’s what to know about Ward’s first NFL contract:
Cam Ward contract details
Ward inked a fully guaranteed four-year, $48.7 million deal with the Titans.
It carries an average annual value (AAV) of around $12.1 million and a signing bonus of $32.1 million, according to Spotrac. The total value of the deal is about $2 million more than what the No. 2 pick, Travis Hunter, received from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
NFL rookie contracts are slotted, meaning the player’s draft position determines their contract. They are fixed and limit the haggling in negotiations to things like offset language.
Regardless, Ward can now begin his career without having to worry about his contract becoming an off-the-field issue.