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Carnell Tate NFL Draft grades: Experts sound off as Titans take WR
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- Carnell Tate NFL Draft grades: Experts sound off as Titans take WR
The Tennessee Titans selected Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate with the fourth pick in the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Thursday, April 23.
Tate stands at 6-foot-2, 192 pounds and will aim to be a threat for quarterback Cam Ward as Tennessee looks to build upon its offense. Last year, the Titans took Ward in the first round. Wisely, they took a wide receiver in the first round this year to pair with him.
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Last season with the Buckeyes, Tate had 51 receptions for 875 yards and nine touchdowns in 11 games. He missed three games with an injury.
Here's what football experts are saying about Tate, the Titans' first round pick, with grades and analysis:
Titans NFL draft experts analysis
Here's what football experts had to say about the Tennessee Titans ' No. 4 overall pick.
Tennessee Titans : Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State - Grade: A
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Nate Davis, USA TODAY : "Perhaps they coveted Love? We'll never know. But the Titans do eschew more defensive help for a player who can immediately help accelerate the development of second-year QB Cam Ward ... and maybe sell a few of those beautiful new jerseys a year before the club moves into its new Nashville stadium. Tate is the latest ready-made wideout product emerging from the Buckeyes' pipeline. His 51 catches in 2025 averaged 17.2 yards, nearly three more than former teammate Jeremiah Smith. And while Tate might have been Robin to Smith's Batman, he should immediately become Ward's primary target, with recently signed Wan'Dale Robinson in a supporting role."
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Ayrton Ostly, USA TODAY:"Tate looks poised to be the next first-round receiver out of Columbus. He boasts impressive size and route running at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds. While he's not a burner, he dominates on vertical routes thanks to his elite contested catch ability (85.7% contested catch rate in 2025). He's one of the most sure-handed players in the class; he didn't drop any of his 66 targets in 2025."
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Rob Oller, The Columbus Dispatch:"Tate makes challenging catches look easy, especially on sideline throws. His size (6-foot-3, 190 pounds) and speed (4.53 in the 40) are good enough, but it is his smooth route-running, strong hands and ability to adjust his body to any throw that set him apart. The latest in a long line of excellent NFL receivers out of Ohio State, Tate stacks up with the best of them, but probably most comparable to Garrett Wilson."
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Ben Solak, ESPN:"Wow! This was a surprise but also quite an exciting pick in Tennessee. Calvin Ridley is under contract for only one more year, and free agent signing Wan'dale Robinson is more of a secondary slot option than an every-down target. Tate gives second-year quarterback Cam Ward an emergent WR1 with X-receiver size, speed and hands. The Titans have wisely opted to load their offense with young playmakers for Ward, drafting Tate even after selecting two fourth-round receivers ( Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike ) a year ago."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tennessee Titans pick Carnell Tate in 2026 NFL draft: grades, analysis
