The Tennessee Titans selected Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, making him the first wide receiver and Buckeye chosen in the first round. Tate is recognized for his polished route running and strong hands.
Key points
Tennessee Titans selected Carnell Tate with the No. 4 pick
Tate was the first wide receiver chosen in the draft
He is recognized for his route running and hands
Tate was the first Buckeye selected in the first round
With the No. 4 overall selection, the Titans selected Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate. The 21-year-old was the first wide-out selected and, perhaps more surprisingly, was the first Buckeye to come off the board during the draft's first round.
Tate was widely viewed as one of the most polished receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft. He is a great route runner and demonstrated excellent hands at Ohio State, establishing himself as a good, contested-catch receiver and separator despite a lack of elite, top-end speed.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love poses on the red carpet before the 2026 NFL Draft at Point State Park.
Carnell Tate of Ohio State.
Kayden McDonald of Ohio State.
Q&A
Why did the Titans select Carnell Tate in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Titans selected Carnell Tate due to his polished skills as a route runner and his ability to make contested catches.
Who was the first wide receiver picked in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Carnell Tate was the first wide receiver selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
What makes Carnell Tate a standout wide receiver?
Carnell Tate is noted for his excellent route running and strong hands, making him effective in contested catches.
How does Carnell Tate compare to other wide receivers in the draft?
Tate was widely viewed as one of the most polished receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft, despite lacking elite top-end speed.
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Francis Mauigoa of Miami.
Arvell Reese of Ohio State.
Mansoor Delane of LSU.
Dillon Thieneman of Oregon.
Rueben Bain Jr. of Miami arrives prior to the 2026 NFL Draft.
Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson poses on the red carpet.
Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker David Bailey.
Colton Hood of Tennessee.
Kadyn Proctor of Alabama arrives prior to the 2026 NFL Draft.
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Fashion and football meet in Pittsburgh on the NFL draft red carpet
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love poses on the red carpet before the 2026 NFL Draft at Point State Park.
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Fashion and football meet in Pittsburgh on the NFL draft red carpet
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love poses on the red carpet before the 2026 NFL Draft at Point State Park.
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Fashion and football meet in Pittsburgh on the NFL draft red carpet
Carnell Tate of Ohio State.
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Fashion and football meet in Pittsburgh on the NFL draft red carpet
Kayden McDonald of Ohio State.
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Fashion and football meet in Pittsburgh on the NFL draft red carpet
Francis Mauigoa of Miami.
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Fashion and football meet in Pittsburgh on the NFL draft red carpet
Arvell Reese of Ohio State.
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Fashion and football meet in Pittsburgh on the NFL draft red carpet
Mansoor Delane of LSU.
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Fashion and football meet in Pittsburgh on the NFL draft red carpet
Dillon Thieneman of Oregon.
8 / 12
Fashion and football meet in Pittsburgh on the NFL draft red carpet
Rueben Bain Jr. of Miami arrives prior to the 2026 NFL Draft.
9 / 12
Fashion and football meet in Pittsburgh on the NFL draft red carpet
Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson poses on the red carpet.
10 / 12
Fashion and football meet in Pittsburgh on the NFL draft red carpet
Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker David Bailey.
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Fashion and football meet in Pittsburgh on the NFL draft red carpet
Colton Hood of Tennessee.
12 / 12
Fashion and football meet in Pittsburgh on the NFL draft red carpet
Kadyn Proctor of Alabama arrives prior to the 2026 NFL Draft.
Few expected the Titans would take Tate with the No. 4 overall pick. Many believed the team would target Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, if he made it to their selection, or add a middle-of-the-field playmaker like Sonny Styles or Arvell Reese to Robert Saleh's defense.
Still, the Titans needed a true, No. 1 receiver to pair long-term with second-year quarterback Cam Ward, the top overall selection from the 2025 NFL Draft. Tate will provide just that, and profiles as a strong complement to free-agent acquisition Wan'Dale Robinson.
Here's more about where Tate will fit in Tennessee's wide receiver room.
Titans WR depth chart
Tate figures to be the long-term No. 1 receiver for the Titans. Below is a look at the projected order of their depth chart.
Tate, Robinson and Ridley figure to be the top three receivers for the Titans, with the smaller-sized Robinson (5-8, 185 pounds) likely being the top slot receiver in three-wide sets.
Meanwhile, Ridley played just 23.7% of the Titans' snaps last season due to injury. If he can stay healthy, he will serve as a veteran mentor and outside complement to Tate.
Given Ridley's lack of reliability and Robinson's lack of size, it's fair to assume Tate will quickly emerge as Ward's most reliable target. That will give the pro-ready prospect a chance to become the latest Ohio State receiver to hit the ground running in the NFL.