Tennessee’s massive $51.1 million investment in the Ohio State standout signals a clear path to WR1 status, defying skeptics who doubt his ability to lead the offense.
The Tennessee Titans surprised some people by picking Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate at No. 4 in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Jeremiyah Love was no longer on the board at the time after the Arizona Cardinals took him just one pick earlier at No. 3. Both of Tate's teammates, Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese, were still on the board, but General Manager Mike Borgonzi stuck to his strategy of taking the best player available.
Tate brings a unique blend of a deep threat and an excellent route tree from his time at Ohio State. He even played some slot receiver as a true freshman when Emeka Egbuka suffered an injury that forced him to miss a few games.
There were skeptics around the country who didn't agree with the Titans' pick. They claimed that since Tate wasn't a No. 1 WR in college, he couldn't be one in the NFL.
Tate spent all of last season playing behind Ohio State star receiver Jeremiah Smith. Still, he recorded 875 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2025.
The debate sparked a discussion between Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons and New York Giants receiver Malik Nabers. Nabers argued that Tate couldn't be a No. 1 WR, and Parsons actually had a solid argument for the opposite stance.
Parsons referenced another Ohio State WR in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was behind D.K. Metcalf when he first got to the Seattle Seahawks. Metcalf was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers last year, and Smith-Njigba took over WR1 duties.
Smith-Njigba went on to lead the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns last season, proving that Tate deserves a chance to compete for the No. 1 WR job in the Music City.
The contract details for Tate came out on Friday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Tate signed a four-year, $51.1 million contract that is fully guaranteed. It also included a $33.6 million signing bonus for the Titans' rookie.
Is it just me, or does that contract scream top receiver money? Because to me, that's exactly what it sounds like. I get that there is a lot of money to be made if you are a first-round pick, but this kind of money tends to go to players expected to start as rookies.
Based on the amount of money that Tate is getting in just his first contract with the Titans, it seems like the plan going forward is for him to be one of the team's top receiving options.
He is currently listed as a starter on the outside along Calvin Ridley, via Ourlads.com. Free-agent signing Wan'Dale Robinson is set to start at slot receiver for the Titans in 2026.
After an offseason of debate over whether Tate has what it takes to be a No. 1 WR in the NFL, it seems the Titans are putting their faith in him to do so.
I never understood the argument for why Tate couldn't. I get that he was the No. 2 WR at Ohio State, but you have to understand just how good of a player Smith has the potential to be.
When he decides to go to the NFL, he will easily be one of the first players taken in the draft. I mean, the guy has led the Big Ten in receiving yards in both seasons of his college career so far.
In 2024, he had 1,315 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns as a true freshman.
There's no doubt that Smith could be a very good receiver in the NFL, which makes sense why a player like Tate was behind him in college.
It's up to Tate to prove to people like Nabers that they were wrong about him.