Titans: Carnell Tate was the only call at No. 4
Tennessee had premium defensive options on the board and still picked the Ohio State receiver. GM Mike Borgonzi said it was 'a very easy decision.' Cam Ward agrees.
The Titans had two of the top defensive prospects in the draft sitting there at No. 4. They took a wide receiver instead. GM Mike Borgonzi called it 'a very easy decision,' and the early returns from OTAs suggest Cam Ward already agrees.
Why did Tennessee go offense at No. 4?
Borgonzi said Carnell Tate was 'by far the top receiver on our board' and that the room reached unanimous agreement quickly. Robert Saleh, whose coaching background is on defense, prioritized giving Ward a weapon rather than adding to a unit that already had returning starters. Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles were the defensive options most linked to the pick in the pre-draft cycle, but the offensive case was never close internally.
What does Tate bring?
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound All-American from Ohio State had nine touchdowns in 2025, five of them on plays of 40 or more yards. Tennessee's offense generated only three 40-plus-yard pass plays all of last season, which is the specific gap Tate was drafted to fill. He wins in man coverage, runs clean routes at his size, and handles contested catches at a rate that made him the consensus WR1 in the class.
What has Cam Ward said?
Ward praised Tate at OTAs: 'He's got great hands, wins in man coverage, and he's a strider.' Ward also said Tate would benefit from one-on-one opportunities in Brian Daboll's offense and called Tennessee 'one of the best offenses he could be in.' The connection carries some history - Tate's Ohio State position coach Brian Hartline previously worked alongside Daboll, which smoothed the install process.
How does this reshape the offense?
Ward is entering his second year with a full offseason of reps. Adding Tate alongside the existing receiver room gives Daboll a true downfield threat to complement shorter routes. The Titans finished below the league average in explosive passing plays in 2025. With Tate as the vertical option, Ward now has a target who can turn a single coverage look into a touchdown rather than just a contested gain.
Players in this story
Sources
- ESPN: Titans say OSU's Carnell Tate was perfect fit for Cam Ward
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