Titans select Ward first in NFL Draft but Sanders snubbed

In less than a year Cam Ward went from a late-round projection to being favourite for the first overall pick

The Tennessee Titans selected quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick of the NFL Draft.

Ward emerged as the clear favourite for the prestigious honour in the weeks leading up to the three-day event in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The 22-year-old led Miami to a 10-3 record last season, claiming the most touchdown passes in college football (39) and the second-most passing yards (4,313).

Colorado's Travis Hunter won last season's Heisman Trophy for best college player but the Titans were in need of a franchise quarterback.

The Jacksonville Jaguars then made a shock move by agreeing a trade with the Cleveland Browns to gain the second pick, with which they claimed two-way star Hunter.

But Shedeur Sanders, Hunter's college quarterback at Colorado and previously Jackson State, was overlooked completely in the first round on Thursday.

Sanders' draft stock fell sharply in the past few days, with some analysts fearing he would not only slide out of the top-five picks but out of the first round altogether, and the most pessimistic projections came to fruition.

Jacksonville's blockbuster move for Hunter stunned the 205,000 crowd in Green Bay and will delight European NFL fans.

The 21-year-old could play twice in London next season as the Jaguars have again committed to host a game at Wembley and could agree to play another at Tottenham, as they have done in the past two seasons.

Hunter was the first draft prospect in 27 years to have played significant time on both defence and offence in college - at cornerback and wide receiver.

He has been described as a 'unicorn' and the Jags' decision to trade up from the fifth pick suggests they are willing to grant Hunter's wish of being given the chance to be a two-way player in the NFL too.

The last time there was a genuine two-way player in the NFL was in the 1990s with Hall of Famer Deion Sanders - Shedeur's father and their head coach at both Colorado and Jackson State.

Travis Hunter could not contain his excitement as he skipped onto the stage next to Green Bay's iconic Lambeau Field

What happened with Sanders?

After last year's draft, Sanders was installed as the initial favourite to be this year's first pick.

Ward was expected to be a late-round pick but a fine season with Miami saw him usurp Sanders in January, while uncertainty grew surrounding Sanders.

The New York Giants took pass rusher Abdul Carter with the third pick, before the New England Patriots chose offensive tackle Will Campbell and Cleveland claimed defensive tackle Mason Graham.

In scenes reminiscent of the humbling wait Aaron Rodgers endured during the 2005 Draft, Sanders continued to slide.

And although the 23-year-old had a pre-draft meeting with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who need a quarterback, they also snubbed him with the 21st pick.

Sanders and his family were spared the ignominy of waiting in the green room in Green Bay as he was not invited to the draft.

But Shedeur and his father Deion looked dismayed at a private party in their native Texas, as the Giants traded back into the first round for the 25th pick, only to take another quarterback - Jaxson Dart out of Mississippi.

Sanders didn't just fall past the 24th pick - where the Packers put Rodgers out of his misery - he fell into the second round, with Ward and Dart being the only QBs drafted on day one.

Sanders will hope to finally get a call early on Friday, when the draft continues with rounds two and three.

Who were the top 10 picks in the draft?

1. Cam Ward, QB, Tennessee Titans

2. Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (trade with Cleveland)

3. Abdul Carter, DE, New York Giants

4. Will Campbell, OL, New England Patriots

5. Mason Graham, DL, Cleveland Browns (trade with Jacksonville)

6. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

7. Armand Membou, OL, New York Jets

8. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers

9. Kelvin Banks Jr, OL, New Orleans Saints

10. Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago Bears