The annual allocation of NFL rights for top college talent was held in front of thousands of fans gathered outside Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the Green Bay Packers.
The Titans were handed the top draft spot ahead of Cleveland at second and the New York Giants picking third after all three finished an NFL-worst 3-14 last season.
Ward, a 22-year-old from Texas, completed 305 of 454 passes for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns with only seven interceptions and ran 60 times for 204 yards and four touchdowns for the Hurricanes last season. (AFP)