Cam Ward’s ‘Clunky’ OTAs Raise Alarms — Is He Repeating Maye and Williams’ Mistakes?

The Tennessee Titans are barely into their offseason program, and already the alarm bells are ringing—or are they? Mandatory minicamp kicks off June 16, and all eyes are locked on quarterback Cam Ward, the franchise’s supposed savior. But after back-to-back practices described as “clunky” and a “struggle,” sources close to the situation say the vibe around Nashville is getting tense.

One content creator, however, is telling fans to pump the brakes. Justi Graver, a veteran NFL analyst, dropped a bombshell on X this week, pointing out that Ward isn’t alone in his early-summer misery. Graver allegedly dug up damning headlines from last year—when both Drake Maye and Caleb Williams were getting torched in the press for nearly identical issues.

“Drake Maye struggles with four interception day, plus other Patriots OTAs Observations,” CBS Sports reported in mid-May 2025. Then came: “Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams has ‘concerning’ issue at minicamp: Report,” from Chi City Sports in early June 2025. Sound familiar?

Now, Ward—at 24 and fresh off a rocky rookie season—is reportedly the latest victim of the same summer slump. Titans reporter Easton Freeze of A to Z Sports described Tuesday’s practice as “clunky” and a “struggle,” adding it was the second straight sub-par showing for the No. 1 overall pick. “I’m entirely unmoved by this,” Freeze said, though insiders tell us the locker room is quietly buzzing about whether Ward can shake the rust off before pads come on.

According to reports, Ward is still learning offensive coordinator Brian Daboll’s brand-new scheme—a system that’s notoriously complex. And with zero padded practices under his belt, some scouts claim it’s way too early to sound the panic alarm. But the pattern is hard to ignore: Maye and Williams both weathered brutal preseason headlines only to rebound. Will Ward be next?

The stakes couldn’t be higher. After tossing 3,169 yards and 17 total touchdowns on a 59.8% completion rate last season, Ward’s sophomore year is supposed to be a leap. Sources say that if these struggles carry into minicamp, the front office could reportedly start exploring backup options. For now, the narrative reads like a broken record—but Nashville is holding its breath.