Nobody was surprised when Carnell Tate became the first wide receiver selected in the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23. However, the Tennessee Titans raised eyebrows by picking him at No. 4 overall.

Tate, who spent three years at Ohio State, was never the main receiver. Analysts expected him to join a team as a secondary option. Many thought the Washington Commanders would select him at No. 7. The idea was he would complement Terry McLaurin and assist quarterback Jayden Daniels. Other speculated destinations included the New York Giants and Kansas City Chiefs. In New York, Tate would play behind Malik Nabers and help quarterback Jaxson Dart. With the Chiefs, he could fill a role similar to Tyreek Hill’s, supporting Patrick Mahomes without needing to lead offensively.

All predictions changed when the Titans made their choice. It’s important to recall that the Titans recently selected quarterback Cam Ward as their No. 1 pick in 2025 and are now focused on building a team around him. Ward dismissed doubts about Tate’s capacity to be a top receiver. “He’ll have an explosive year just because he’ll get a lot of one-on-one matchups,” Ward said, according to ESPN’s Turron Davenport. “I think this is one of the best offenses he could be in just because he’s going to get coached, but he’s not going to get overcoached, and he’s going to still be able to play football how he sees it.”

In January, the Titans appointed Robert Saleh, known for his defensive expertise, as head coach. Former Giants head coach Brian Daboll was recruited as the offensive coordinator afterward. While Daboll’s time with the Giants lacked highlights, he played a crucial role in developing Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. During Daboll’s coordination from 2018 to 2021, Buffalo’s acquisition of Stefon Diggs in 2020 was pivotal in Allen’s growth. The Titans likely envision a similar impact with Tate aiding Ward’s development.