The Tennessee Titans' selection of Carnell Tate at No. 4 in the 2026 draft has sparked criticism, recalling past draft mistakes. General Manager Mike Borgonzi prioritized a specific need over choosing the best available player.
Key points
Titans selected Carnell Tate at No. 4 in the 2026 draft
Criticism of the choice as a reach by GM Mike Borgonzi
Focus on specific team needs over best available players
Past draft mistakes have led to skepticism
Mentioned in this story
Mike Borgonzi
Carnell TateTennessee Titans
Titans' reach for Carnell Tate stirs up bad draft memories | Estes
The missteps of past Tennessee Titans’ drafts can't be held against Mike Borgonzi.
You’d rather have had someone else at No. 4? Yeah, I know. I get it. The Titans’ initial 2026 first-round pick was indeed a surprising choice. I believe they'd call Tate a classic reeeeaaaach by Borgonzi. The Titans' general manager appeared to choose a specific need over the "best available" player.
But Tate? Who knows? He was widely considered the best wide receiver in this draft, and if you’ve watched a lot of the Titans' past two seasons (if so, I’m sorry), you understand how desperately this crummy offense, and its quarterback , craved the best receiver in a draft.
Q&A
Why did the Titans select Carnell Tate at No. 4 in the 2026 draft?
The Titans selected Carnell Tate at No. 4 to address a specific need, despite criticism that it was a reach.
What past draft mistakes are associated with the Tennessee Titans?
The Titans have a history of draft missteps that have led to skepticism about their decision-making in recent drafts.
Who is Mike Borgonzi and what is his role with the Titans?
Mike Borgonzi is the General Manager of the Tennessee Titans, responsible for making key draft decisions.
What does it mean to 'reach' for a player in the NFL draft?
To 'reach' for a player means selecting them earlier than expected, often prioritizing team needs over the best available talent.
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Tate is a “complete receiver” — his words. He’s tall enough to play outside. He makes plays down the field — Borgonzi's words. He’s smooth in all the ways you’d want a receiver to be, and he’s physical. He excelled in a long line of gifted receivers at Ohio State, and he was hyped that way before he got to Columbus.
Mar 5, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) stretches with wide receiver Reis Stocksdale (87) during the first spring practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
Nov 4, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) congratulates wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) after he scored a touchdown during the NCAA football game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Ohio State won 35-16.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) talks with the media during Ohio State football coach and player news conferences on Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025 at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center in Columbus
Aug 8, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receivers Carnell Tate (17) and Jeremiah Smith (4) catch passes during football practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Complex.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) runs the ball against the Michigan Wolverines in the first half of the NCAA football game at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) blows a kiss to the fans in the first half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) runs toward Penn State Nittany Lions safety Zakee Wheatley (6) during the NCAA football game at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa. on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. Ohio State won 20-13.
August 31, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA;
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) yells as he scores a touchdown during the second half of Saturday’s NCAA Division I football game against the Akron Zips at Ohio Stadium.
Sep 2, 2023; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Louis Moore (20) breaks up a pass intended for Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) during the first half of the NCAA football game at Indiana University Memorial Stadium.
Oct 7, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA;
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) catches the ball despite attempts from Maryland Terrapins defensive back Gavin Gibson (26) during their game on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.
Sep 16, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) makes a touchdown catch against Western Kentucky Hilltoppers defensive back Nazir Ward (27) during the third quarter of their game at Ohio Stadium.
Aug 1, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receivers Carnell Tate (17) and Emeka Egbuka (2) run between drills during football camp at the Woody Hayes Athletic Complex.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) celebrates a touchdown catch with tight end Max Klare (86) during the second half of the NCAA football game against the Ohio Bobcats at Ohio Stadium on Sept. 13, 2025. Ohio State won 37-9.
Ohio State football wide receiver Carnell Tate ignites the match prior to the MLS soccer game against Chicago Fire FC at Lower.com Field in Columbus on Feb. 22, 2025.
Mar 7, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) stretches with wide receiver Reis Stocksdale (87) during spring football practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) catches a pass and scores a touchdown against Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Zion Tracy (7) in the first half of the college football game at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) makes a touchdown catch against Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive back Malcolm Hartzog Jr. (7) during the first quarter of their game at Ohio Stadium on Oct 26, 2024, in Columbus.
Sept. 7, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA;
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) is pursued by Western Michigan Broncos defensive back Josh Franklin (21) during the first half of an NCAA Division I football game on Saturday at Ohio Stadium.
Nov 9, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA;
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) and Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrate a touchdown by Smith during the first half of Saturday’s football game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ohio Stadium.
Nov 9, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA;
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) is tackled by Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Antonio Stevens (11) during the second half of Saturday’s football game at Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) catches a touchdown pass in front of Northwestern Wildcats defensive back Josh Fussell (13) during the first half of the NCAA football game at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024.
Aug 8, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receivers Emeka Egbuka (2), Carnell Tate (17) and Brandon Inniss (11) watch during football practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Complex.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) catches a touchdown pass in front of Northwestern Wildcats defensive back Josh Fussell (13) during the NCAA football game at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. Ohio State won 31-7.
Aug 31, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) celebrates a touchdown with teammates during the second half of the NCAA football game against the Akron Zips at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 52-6.
Oct. 14, 2023; Lafayette, In., USA;
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) runs the football during the second half of Saturday's NCAA Division I football game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium in Lafayette.
Oct 21, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) celebrates a first down during the first half of the NCAA football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) celebrates his touchdown with Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) against Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first quarter of their game at Ohio Stadium on Oct 26, 2024, in Columbus.
Sep 16, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) celebrates a touchdown with offensive lineman Carson Hinzman (75) during the second half of the NCAA football game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 63-10.
August 31, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA;
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) is upended by Akron Zips defensive back Malcom DeWalt IV (17) during the second half of Saturday’s NCAA Division I football game at Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates with wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) after Smith scored a touchdown in the first half at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio.
Sep 28, 2024; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) is tackled by Michigan State Spartans in the first half at Spartan Stadium on Saturday.
Aug 31, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates a touchdown by wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) during the second half of the NCAA football game against the Akron Zips at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 52-6.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) heads up field against Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive back Isaac Gifford (2) after a catch during the first quarter of their game at Ohio Stadium on Oct 26, 2024, in Columbus.
Oct 21, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) can't come up with the catch against Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Daequan Hardy (25) during the first quarter of their game at Ohio Stadium.
Nov 4, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) lines up for a play during the NCAA football game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Ohio State won 35-16.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receivers Carnell Tate (17), Brandon Inniss (1) and Jeremiah Smith (4) talk during spring football practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on March 17, 2025.
August 31, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA;
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) is tackled by Akron Zips defensive back Paul Lewis III (9) during the first half of Saturday’s NCAA Division I football game at Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State Buckeye Carnell Tate (17) signs autographs after the spring game at Ohio Stadium on April 12, 2025.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) catches a pass against Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive back Mike Gerald (13) in the first half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
Oct 5, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) walks off the field after not playing against Iowa Hawkeyes during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) catches a touchdown pass over Texas Longhorns defensive back Jaylon Guilbeau (3) during the second half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025. Ohio State won 14-7.
Mar 5, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) stretches with wide receiver Reis Stocksdale (87) during the first spring practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
Mar 5, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) stretches with wide receiver Reis Stocksdale (87) during the first spring practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
Nov 4, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) congratulates wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) after he scored a touchdown during the NCAA football game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Ohio State won 35-16.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) talks with the media during Ohio State football coach and player news conferences on Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025 at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center in Columbus
Aug 8, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receivers Carnell Tate (17) and Jeremiah Smith (4) catch passes during football practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Complex.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) runs the ball against the Michigan Wolverines in the first half of the NCAA football game at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) blows a kiss to the fans in the first half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) runs toward Penn State Nittany Lions safety Zakee Wheatley (6) during the NCAA football game at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa. on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. Ohio State won 20-13.
August 31, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA;
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) yells as he scores a touchdown during the second half of Saturday’s NCAA Division I football game against the Akron Zips at Ohio Stadium.
Sep 2, 2023; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Louis Moore (20) breaks up a pass intended for Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) during the first half of the NCAA football game at Indiana University Memorial Stadium.
Oct 7, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA;
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) catches the ball despite attempts from Maryland Terrapins defensive back Gavin Gibson (26) during their game on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.
Sep 16, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) makes a touchdown catch against Western Kentucky Hilltoppers defensive back Nazir Ward (27) during the third quarter of their game at Ohio Stadium.
Aug 1, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receivers Carnell Tate (17) and Emeka Egbuka (2) run between drills during football camp at the Woody Hayes Athletic Complex.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) celebrates a touchdown catch with tight end Max Klare (86) during the second half of the NCAA football game against the Ohio Bobcats at Ohio Stadium on Sept. 13, 2025. Ohio State won 37-9.
Ohio State football wide receiver Carnell Tate ignites the match prior to the MLS soccer game against Chicago Fire FC at Lower.com Field in Columbus on Feb. 22, 2025.
Mar 7, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) stretches with wide receiver Reis Stocksdale (87) during spring football practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) catches a pass and scores a touchdown against Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Zion Tracy (7) in the first half of the college football game at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) makes a touchdown catch against Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive back Malcolm Hartzog Jr. (7) during the first quarter of their game at Ohio Stadium on Oct 26, 2024, in Columbus.
Sept. 7, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA;
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) is pursued by Western Michigan Broncos defensive back Josh Franklin (21) during the first half of an NCAA Division I football game on Saturday at Ohio Stadium.
Nov 9, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA;
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) and Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrate a touchdown by Smith during the first half of Saturday’s football game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ohio Stadium.
Nov 9, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA;
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) is tackled by Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Antonio Stevens (11) during the second half of Saturday’s football game at Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) catches a touchdown pass in front of Northwestern Wildcats defensive back Josh Fussell (13) during the first half of the NCAA football game at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024.
Aug 8, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receivers Emeka Egbuka (2), Carnell Tate (17) and Brandon Inniss (11) watch during football practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Complex.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) catches a touchdown pass in front of Northwestern Wildcats defensive back Josh Fussell (13) during the NCAA football game at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. Ohio State won 31-7.
Aug 31, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) celebrates a touchdown with teammates during the second half of the NCAA football game against the Akron Zips at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 52-6.
Oct. 14, 2023; Lafayette, In., USA;
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) runs the football during the second half of Saturday's NCAA Division I football game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium in Lafayette.
Oct 21, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) celebrates a first down during the first half of the NCAA football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) celebrates his touchdown with Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) against Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first quarter of their game at Ohio Stadium on Oct 26, 2024, in Columbus.
Sep 16, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) celebrates a touchdown with offensive lineman Carson Hinzman (75) during the second half of the NCAA football game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 63-10.
August 31, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA;
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) is upended by Akron Zips defensive back Malcom DeWalt IV (17) during the second half of Saturday’s NCAA Division I football game at Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates with wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) after Smith scored a touchdown in the first half at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio.
Sep 28, 2024; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) is tackled by Michigan State Spartans in the first half at Spartan Stadium on Saturday.
Aug 31, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates a touchdown by wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) during the second half of the NCAA football game against the Akron Zips at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 52-6.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) heads up field against Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive back Isaac Gifford (2) after a catch during the first quarter of their game at Ohio Stadium on Oct 26, 2024, in Columbus.
Oct 21, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) can't come up with the catch against Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Daequan Hardy (25) during the first quarter of their game at Ohio Stadium.
Nov 4, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) lines up for a play during the NCAA football game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Ohio State won 35-16.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receivers Carnell Tate (17), Brandon Inniss (1) and Jeremiah Smith (4) talk during spring football practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on March 17, 2025.
August 31, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA;
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) is tackled by Akron Zips defensive back Paul Lewis III (9) during the first half of Saturday’s NCAA Division I football game at Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) catches a pass against Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive back Mike Gerald (13) in the first half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
Oct 5, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) walks off the field after not playing against Iowa Hawkeyes during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) catches a touchdown pass over Texas Longhorns defensive back Jaylon Guilbeau (3) during the second half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025. Ohio State won 14-7.
If you keep scrolling, you’ll also see a highly interesting comp for Tate. Who was the NFL player that 247Sports’ analysts believed was most similar?
Noteable difference: The Atlanta Falcons took Ridley at No. 26 overall in 2018.
By putting Tate all way up at No. 4, where few saw the wide receiver going in this draft, the Titans placed him into rare company. No full-time wide receiver (excluding Travis Hunter) has been drafted higher than No. 4 since Calvin Johnson in 2007. Only a few during that stretch – most recently Marvin Harrison Jr., two years ago – have even gone fourth.
Heck, Ja’Marr Chase went fifth in 2021.
And the Titans drafted Tate FOURTH?
Instead of the defensive stars? Instead of his gifted Ohio State teammates Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles? Instead of Miami’s Reuben Bain Jr.?
Instead of trading back in the likelihood that Tate would still be available?
"I saw a 20-year-old kid that continued to get better," Borgonzi said of Tate, "and his ability to get open at the top of the routes and really catch the ball down the field. That's the one thing that really stood out to us: His ability to track the football."
Emily Duncan of Paducah, Ky., center, reacts to the Arizona Cardinals pick of Jeremiyah Love during the 2026 Titans Draft Party at Nissan Stadium Thursday, April 23, 2026. She was hoping, as many Titans fans were, he would be the Titans fourth pick. Instead, the Titans took wide receiver Carnell Tate.
during the 2026 Titans Draft Party at Nissan StadiuTennessee Titans fans react to the announcement of wide receiver Carnell Tate as the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft during the 2026 Titans Draft Party at Nissan Stadium Thursday, April 23, 2026.
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Tennessee Titans celebrate first-round draft pick at Nissan Stadium
Emily Duncan of Paducah, Ky., center, reacts to the Arizona Cardinals pick of Jeremiyah Love during the 2026 Titans Draft Party at Nissan Stadium Thursday, April 23, 2026. She was hoping, as many Titans fans were, he would be the Titans fourth pick. Instead, the Titans took wide receiver Carnell Tate.
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Tennessee Titans celebrate first-round draft pick at Nissan Stadium
Emily Duncan of Paducah, Ky., center, reacts to the Arizona Cardinals pick of Jeremiyah Love during the 2026 Titans Draft Party at Nissan Stadium Thursday, April 23, 2026. She was hoping, as many Titans fans were, he would be the Titans fourth pick. Instead, the Titans took wide receiver Carnell Tate.
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Tennessee Titans celebrate first-round draft pick at Nissan Stadium
during the 2026 Titans Draft Party at Nissan StadiuTennessee Titans fans react to the announcement of wide receiver Carnell Tate as the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft during the 2026 Titans Draft Party at Nissan Stadium Thursday, April 23, 2026.
By anyone’s estimation, this was a dice-roll by Borgonzi on a player who’ll show up with a ton of pressure to be a No. 1 receiver for an NFL franchise despite having not even been that in college. Tate was the No. 2 receiver for Ohio State behind the supremely gifted Jeremiah Smith.
Now Smith, you’d feel comfortable drafting at No. 4 overall. But Tate had 368 fewer receiving yards than Smith last season despite not facing the opponent’s best coverage. That Tate was the unquestioned top receiver in this draft was considered proof of this not being a top-heavy draft for the premium position.
While Tate was the best of the bunch, pick No. 4 was believed to be unlikely.
“I didn't have any idea that I was going to go this early,” Tate said.
Same here, Carnell.
Tate is considered a safe selection in that his floor is believed to be high as a productive NFL receiver. But when you make him the No. 4 pick, you're banking on his ceiling as a game-changing talent.
In that sense, Tate is either going to pay off in a quick and obvious fashion (see some other Ohio State receivers in the NFL) or the weight of expectations for him as a top-five pick could prove too heavy (see Corey Davis' time with the Titans).
As for Borgonzi, given those previously referenced draft missteps by the Titans, it is instinctive to recoil from another truly questionable first-round draft decision.
The truly questionable draft decisions never seem to work out for the Titans, given how they've endured a horrific run of drafts for most of this decade.
Maybe this’ll be different. Maybe, this time, the Titans were the ones ahead of the curve instead of forever being behind it on draft night.
It's hard to expect the best yet, though.
With the Titans on draft nights, everyone is too accustomed to expecting the worst.
Reach Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@tennessean.com and hang out with him on Bluesky @gentryestes.bsky.social