Titans Surprise with Carnell Tate at No. 4 in NFL Draft

The 2026 NFL Draft on April 23 saw the Tennessee Titans make a surprising choice by selecting Carnell Tate as the first wide receiver at No. 4 overall. Known for not being the primary receiver during his three-year stint at Ohio State, many draft analysts anticipated Tate joining a team where he would start as a secondary option.

The expectation was that Tate would go to the Washington Commanders at No. 7, offering a complementary role to Terry McLaurin. This move would help quarterback Jayden Daniels recover his form. Other speculation linked Tate to the New York Giants or the Kansas City Chiefs. In New York, he could have played behind Malik Nabers, while in Kansas City, he would provide Patrick Mahomes with additional talent without being the central offensive focus.

However, the Titans’ decision to draft Tate emphasized their plan to support quarterback Cam Ward, selected first overall in 2025. Ward is confident in Tate’s potential to thrive as a No. 1 receiver, expecting him to benefit from numerous one-on-one matchups. ESPN’s Turron Davenport reported Ward’s view: “He’ll have an explosive year… he’s going to still be able to play football how he sees it.”

The Titans recently appointed Robert Saleh, known for his defensive expertise, as head coach, and Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator. Although Daboll’s tenure with the Giants had mixed results, he is recognized for developing Josh Allen during his time with the Buffalo Bills. In 2020, wide receiver Stefon Diggs joined the Bills, helping unlock Allen’s potential. Nashville now hopes Tate will have a similar impact on Ward.