Cam Ward hype train keeps rolling as analyst says he is Rookie of the Year favorite

The Tennessee Titans may be a few weeks away from their Week 1 debut against the Denver Broncos, but the hype surrounding rookie quarterback Cam Ward is already starting to hit a fever pitch in Nashville.

Ward is the only rookie quarterback positioned to be an unquestioned Week 1 starter at this point, which should put him right at the forefront of the Rookie of the Year discussions. As training camp comes closer, the hype around the Titans wunderkind is palpable.

Former NFL linebacker and current analyst Manti Te'o believes that Ward is going to run away with Rookie of the Year in his debut Nashville campaign. Ward has enough talent to compete for the award no matter what, but Te'o thinks his structure could help propel the Titans' neophyte past the rest.

Te'o thinks the partnership Ward will forge with head coach Brian Callahan, who played a big role in helping Joe Burrow become the player he is today, will ultimately be enough to set Ward apart from the other youngsters who seek to make their mark in the pros.

Manti Te'o believes Titans QB Cam Ward will win Rookie of the Year

Unlike most quarterbacks who get picked with the first pick, Tennessee's offensive situation is far from dire. Not only does he have an offensive-minded coach in Callahan who wants to throw the ball on every play if he could, but the structure around Ward is much better than it was for Will Levis.

The Titans' offensive line has the potential to be genuinely fantastic. There are multiple early first-round picks (JC Latham, Peter Skoronski) and veteran free agent signings (Dan Moore Jr, Lloyd Cushenberry III, Kevin Zeitler) that should be able to keep Ward upright in the pocket.

Ward's biggest obstacle to the ROY, on top of what should be a poor Titans record, is the fact that his wide receiver room is substandard right now. Ward's top two targets are Calvin Ridley, who is on the very low end of No. 1 wide receivers in the NFL, and Tyler Lockett, who is on the back end of his pro career.

Even with the lack of elite targets at his disposal, the combination of a creative passing game and Ward's own tremendous talent could be all that someone like Te'o needs to see to jump on the bandwagon and keep the ROY hype as strong as it has ever been.