Saturday vs Sunday

In this episode of Saturday vs Sunday, John Barban shines a spotlight on a player who’s been strangely overlooked in all the post-draft drama: Cam Ward. Despite being the #1 overall pick, Ward’s story has been drowned out by nonstop coverage of Shedeur Sanders’ draft slide. But John argues that Ward — not Sanders — is the real story of the 2025 NFL Draft.John dives into Ward’s incredible underdog journey, tracing his path from a zero-star high school recruit to Incarnate Word, then to Washington State, and finally to Miami as a graduate transfer. After an impressive Heisman-finalist season at Miami, Ward worked his way into becoming the top pick — a rare, inspiring rise that deserves far more attention than it’s gotten.But how likely is it that Cam Ward — or any draft pick — actually succeeds? John turns to some fascinating historical data compiled by Pro Football Reference. According to 20 years of draft outcomes, only about 7% of players drafted can be classified as truly “great” — the ones who earn a second contract with the team that drafted them. Meanwhile, roughly 70% of players either fail to stick with their team, contribute very little, or become average at best. The odds are steep — even for first-rounders.John points out that even first-round picks only sign a second contract with their original team about 30% of the time. So while excitement around Cam Ward is warranted, the reality is that the vast majority of picks — even early ones — don’t pan out. It’s a harsh reminder that predicting NFL success is almost impossible, no matter how polished a player’s college resume may look.To drive the point home, John reviews the past 10 Super Bowl quarterbacks, noting how wildly their draft positions varied: from first overall picks like Joe Burrow and Matthew Stafford, to mid-round stars like Jalen Hurts (53rd overall), Nick Foles (88th overall), and Tom Brady (199th overall). Even Brock Purdy, a last-overall pick, has already taken the 49ers to a Super Bowl. Where you’re drafted, John argues, matters far less than what you do when you get your shot.Ultimately, John urges fans — especially Titans fans — to stay hopeful but grounded. Cam Ward’s story is a great one, but like every rookie, his NFL future is a giant unknown. Only time — and actual game reps — will reveal if the Titans’ gamble at No. 1 overall pays off.Will Ward beat the odds? Will he become a franchise cornerstone? One thing’s for sure: Saturday vs Sunday will be watching every step of the way.

Show Notes

In this episode of Saturday vs Sunday, John Barban shines a spotlight on a player who’s been strangely overlooked in all the post-draft drama: Cam Ward. Despite being the #1 overall pick, Ward’s story has been drowned out by nonstop coverage of Shedeur Sanders’ draft slide. But John argues that Ward — not Sanders — is the real story of the 2025 NFL Draft.John dives into Ward’s incredible underdog journey, tracing his path from a zero-star high school recruit to Incarnate Word, then to Washington State, and finally to Miami as a graduate transfer. After an impressive Heisman-finalist season at Miami, Ward worked his way into becoming the top pick — a rare, inspiring rise that deserves far more attention than it’s gotten.But how likely is it that Cam Ward — or any draft pick — actually succeeds? John turns to some fascinating historical data compiled by Pro Football Reference. According to 20 years of draft outcomes, only about 7% of players drafted can be classified as truly “great” — the ones who earn a second contract with the team that drafted them. Meanwhile, roughly 70% of players either fail to stick with their team, contribute very little, or become average at best. The odds are steep — even for first-rounders.John points out that even first-round picks only sign a second contract with their original team about 30% of the time. So while excitement around Cam Ward is warranted, the reality is that the vast majority of picks — even early ones — don’t pan out. It’s a harsh reminder that predicting NFL success is almost impossible, no matter how polished a player’s college resume may look.To drive the point home, John reviews the past 10 Super Bowl quarterbacks, noting how wildly their draft positions varied: from first overall picks like Joe Burrow and Matthew Stafford, to mid-round stars like Jalen Hurts (53rd overall), Nick Foles (88th overall), and Tom Brady (199th overall). Even Brock Purdy, a last-overall pick, has already taken the 49ers to a Super Bowl. Where you’re drafted, John argues, matters far less than what you do when you get your shot.Ultimately, John urges fans — especially Titans fans — to stay hopeful but grounded. Cam Ward’s story is a great one, but like every rookie, his NFL future is a giant unknown. Only time — and actual game reps — will reveal if the Titans’ gamble at No. 1 overall pays off.Will Ward beat the odds? Will he become a franchise cornerstone? One thing’s for sure: Saturday vs Sunday will be watching every step of the way.

What is Saturday vs Sunday?

Saturday vs Sunday is for die hard football fans who watch college and NFL and want to talk about both every week. We review the games, headlines, reactions for college and NFL and give our take on which one was the most entertaining. Join our channel, and give us your take on college vs the NFL and who won the week.