Cam Ward joined the Titans on April 25. While most new players might quietly settle in, Ward immediately got to work. And he reached out to congratulate the new draft picks as they joined the team. He wasn’t just observing—he was actively helping to build team spirit. But behind the scenes, the Titans were working on something even bigger. That’s signaling that this draft was about more than just adding talent.

On Monday, Jim Wyatt posted on X, “You might be able to draft them for us ahead of time because you’re going to see, ‘Oh, that looks like a Titan.'” He was referring to how the Titans are focusing on a specific DNA when drafting and signing players. One centered on building a strong, winning culture. So, what’s the bigger plan?

The Titans brought in nine new players for their 2025 draft class — six on offense and three on defense. Chad Brinker, the Titans’ President of Football Operations, said these players share some key traits. “Yeah, they’re big, fast, tough football players who love winning more than anything else,” Brinker said on Monday. “I mean, that’s a Titan. I really want — I think over time, as you see how this unfolds, you might be able to draft them for us ahead of time because you’re going to see, ‘Oh, that looks like a Titan.’ There’s definitely a DNA we’re looking for in our players, and I think everybody wants that, but it’s hard to find. You’ve got to do a lot of work, and hopefully, those guys that we’re bringing in here will prove us right.” Fingers crossed.

Brinker and GM Ryan Borgonzi held their post-draft press conference at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park after locking in their picks over the weekend. They started by grabbing QB Cam Ward from Miami with their first overall pick, followed by edge rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo from UCLA in Round 2. The list continued with safety Kevin Winston Jr. from Penn State; wide receivers Chimere Dike from Florida and Elic Ayomanor from Stanford; tight end Gunnar Helm from Texas; offensive guard Jackson Slater out of Sacramento State; cornerback Marcus Harris from California; and running back Kalel Mullings from Michigan.

During the chat with reporters, Brinker and Borgonzi discussed what kind of players they’re after and how they’re reshaping the roster. In his first year as GM, Borgonzi clearly stated that he expects every player to be ready to compete, regardless of position.

Just like Brinker, Borgonzi emphasized the importance of character in their selections. “I think it’s important they come in here with the right mindset, which they will,” Borgonzi said. “That was a big part of the traits and characteristics we were looking for: smart, tough, competitive guys. Usually, that helps in the developmental part. Like I said, all these players need to get better; they need to develop. But if you have those traits, that usually takes you over the edge to really compete and get better.” The expectations are clear.

Bottom line: these rookies must put in the work, but their qualities give them a real shot at fitting perfectly into the team’s identity. So these players might just be the future backbone of the franchise. But what about Cam Ward? He’s definitely making headlines now.

First impressions matter: Titans embrace Cam Ward’s leadership qualities

Cam͏ Wa͏rd ͏was hus͏tl͏in͏g for his soon-to͏-be teammates du͏rin͏g t͏he N͏FL Dr͏aft.͏ W͏hile others were getting ͏picked by the Titans, Ward was busy ͏congratulating the͏m ͏as they cha͏tt͏ed with team ͏br͏ass abou͏t ͏their͏ selec͏tions. “That’s the type of teammate Cam is,” Titans GM Mike Borgonzi said.

“That’s everything we heard about him through the process — he’s one of the guys. That’s why so many of his teammates gravitate toward him. He was tweeting at them right after they got drafted, and that just shows you his leadership and team-first attitude.” Borgonzi even joked with a grin that Ward was texting him during the draft about the picks. “He’s on it pretty quick,” he said. Talk about being plugged in!

On his very first day at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park after joining the Titans, Ward was already making the rounds like he owned the place — bumping into veterans like Calvin Ridley and Tony Pollard and chatting with them like he’d been there for years. You can tell this guy has a natural leadership vibe.

Ward’s been clear about wanting to lead, even as a rookie. And Borgonzi agrees, saying Cam already has those leadership chops. At just 22 (turning 23 soon), Ward isn’t shy at all around older players.

“A lot of that, we talked about with him before the draft,” Borgonzi explained. “He has great awareness of where he is. He knows stepping into an NFL locker room means he has to earn everyone’s respect. Building relationships with everyone is a big part of it. That’s one of the special things about him — his awareness. He knows he has to earn it.” So yeah, everyone’s excited about Cam Ward — kind of like when Jon Snow returned to Winterfell.

But what exactly will he bring to the Titans? That story is just getting started. Stay tuned!