Titans Select WR Carnell Tate At No. 4

Some teams reportedly considered Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson the top receiver in the draft, but Tate has won out and will become a key weapon for second-year quarterback Cam Ward. The Titans spent the first overall pick in last year’s draft on Ward, but a poor supporting cast contributed to a difficult rookie season for the Miami product.

Hoping to make life easier for Ward, Tennessee has added Tate and free agent pickup Wan’Dale Robinson to its receiving corps this offseason. They will also bring back veteran Calvin Ridley and second-year wideouts Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor. The Titans’ Tate-led receiving corps will work with an established offensive coordinator in Brian Daboll, one of new head coach Robert Saleh‘s most important hires. As the Giants’ head coach in 2024, Daboll helped then-rookie receiver Malik Nabers to a 109-catch, 1,204-yard year after they chose him sixth in the draft. The Titans will hope for a similar impact from Tate.

The 6-foot, 192-pound Tate earned a reputation as an excellent route runner in his three years at Ohio State, where he caught 121 passes and 14 touchdowns in 39 games. Stuck behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka as a freshman, Tate only managed 18 receptions and a score. His production took off after those two left for the NFL. Although Tate played second fiddle to future pro Jeremiah Smith from 2024-25, he averaged 52 catches, 804 yards and seven touchdowns per year. The sure-handed Tate did not drop a pass in 2025, per Pro Football Focus.

Tate is now the latest Buckeyes wideout to exit the board in the first round in recent years, joining Egbuka, Harrison, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. All of those players have enjoyed successful careers in the pros.

The Titans were expected to use their top pick on either a receiver or an edge defender. Having landed a pass catcher, they could turn their attention to the other side of the ball with their next selection (No. 35).

Connor Byrne contributed to this post.