Despite facing heavy criticism, Tennessee's brass remains steadfast in selecting Ohio State’s vertical threat to revolutionize their offense and provide quarterback Cam Ward a premier downfield weapon.
The Tennessee Titans went on the clock at No. 4 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
It was speculated that the Titans were going to take Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love after General Manager Mike Borgonzi said that the team was planning on taking the best player available at the NFL Owners Meetings earlier in the offseason.
That plan was dashed pretty quickly after the Arizona Cardinals took Love one pick before at No. 3. Still, there were Ohio State prospects Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles on the board.
With Reese, he can play multiple positions due to his size and length. Styles would've been a good fit at middle linebacker for Robert Saleh, who had previously worked with Fred Warner at the San Francisco 49ers.
Instead, the Titans stuck to their plan and took Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate.
The move was heavily criticized, even by current NFL players like Malik Nabers, who said Tate couldn't be a No. 1 WR in the NFL because he was the No. 2 wideout at Ohio State behind Jeremiah Smith.
However, ESPN's Turron Davenport revealed that the Titans don't regret their pick at all.
It started with Saleh, who shared that the goal was to get Cam Ward help shortly after Tate was drafted.
"The quarterback is a pretty damn important piece," Saleh said as Tate was introduced to reporters. "So we're doing everything we can to help [Ward] and surround him with players who can get the ball in their hands and go score. Carnell was by far the top receiver on our board. It was a very easy decision to make."
Borgonzi further defended the pick by stating how perfect a receiver Tate is for a quarterback like Ward.
"Tate is a bigger, vertical guy with the ability to play big downfield," general manager Mike Borgonzi said. "That's the one thing, all these contested catches downfield, his ability to go up and catch the football, contort his body in certain ways. I think it's going to be great for Cam."
The Titans' new-look receiver room is actually looking competent compared to how it was last year. Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor showed flashes during their rookie seasons. Still, for the majority of the season, Ward was also throwing to Calvin Ridley, who looked like a shell of his former self, as well as Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson.
Lockett didn't go a full season before being traded halfway through the year to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Based on what both Saleh and Borgonzi have said in the past, they have no doubts that Tate was the best pick they could've made at No. 4 overall.
The Titans have a deep threat and a WR1 on the outside, paired with veterans Ridley and Wan'Dale Robinson. Ward has a lot more weapons than he did last season, that's for sure.
