Titans WR Carnell Tate Can Back Up Post-Draft Comments in Week 5

The Tennessee Titans drafted Carnell Tate No. 4 overall back in April. 

The decision was scrutinized by pundits and NFL players alike. Malik Nabers criticized the move, arguing that Tate didn't have the ability to be a No. 1 wide receiver because he played behind Jeremiah Smith at Ohio State. 

Luckily, not everyone agreed with Nabers. The Titans didn't either. 

Tate has been one of the Titans' top receivers so far, and we got to see that pay off on Sunday. 

Tate led the team with 145 receiving yards on nine receptions. After a slow start to the year, he improved each week. There was a feeling that he was due for a breakout game after the 12-7 loss to the New York Giants.  

The receiver had 58 yards, but you could see how often he got open when you watched the game back. The Titans' offense was struggling, and the rainy conditions made it hard for the team to get him the ball. 

Tate really came into his own in Week 4 and now has an opportunity to build on that with a Week 5 game against a division rival, the Houston Texans. 

In one of his first interviews as a Titan, he made it clear that there was one team he was excited to face in the division. 

Tate called out the Texans' defense. He knows that they have been very formidable under head coach DeMeco Ryans in recent years and is excited about the opportunity.

At that point, he was fresh off being drafted by the Titans and wasn't established as the No. 1 WR. That is no longer the case ahead of Week 5. 

Tate proved last week that the Titans made the right decision drafting him. What better to way build off a career day than against a hated rival like the Texans? 

Titans Owner Amy Adams-Strunk hates the Texans. It started with the disrespect the city of Houston showed her father. 

Her father, Bud Adams, owned the Houston Oilers for many years, and the city and team clashed over stadium upgrades. He moved the team to Tennessee in 1997 and never looked back. 

Then, the NFL decided to bring the Texans to the NFL in 2002. It seemed Houston wasn't willing to upgrade the Oilers' stadium, yet it welcomed another NFL team five years after Adams decided to move the team. 

This rivalry is very important to Adams-Strunk because of that. She's done her part to let Houston know what she thinks about them. Whether it's releasing alternate jerseys for the Titans that clearly mimic the Houston Oilers, or even what the franchise did with the current home uniforms, she does not like that city. 

She would definitely love if Tate had another stellar game against the Texans this time. Titans fans would, too. 

Tate will get his chance to face this Texans defense. Luckily, the Texans have struggled on that side of the ball, especially in pass defense. 

The Texans have allowed the third-most passing yards per game (277.6) so far this year. Tate has a chance to capitalize on that on Sunday. 

Here's hoping he can help the Titans earn their first win. Beating the Texans would be a great start.