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NFL
Was Carnell Tate the Titans' guy all along? One ex-NFL WR thinks so
TL;DR
The Tennessee Titans selected Carnell Tate fourth overall in the NFL draft, surprising many who expected a different pick. Former NFL WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh revealed that Titans' offensive coordinator Brian Daboll hinted at Tate being the team's target all along.
Key points
- Tennessee Titans selected Carnell Tate fourth overall in the NFL draft
- The pick surprised many analysts who expected a different choice
- T.J. Houshmandzadeh revealed insights from Brian Daboll about Tate
Mentioned in this story
T.J. HoushmandzadehBrian Daboll
Carnell TateTennessee Titans
The NFL draft is behind us, and the fallout from what took place over the three days in Pittsburgh is starting to settle. Some of the missing details are starting to be revealed, including an interesting one about the Tennessee Titans.
The Titans surprised many with the selection of Carnell Tate fourth overall last Thursday, sending shockwaves through the draft and the media outlets that had long penciled them in for Jeremiyah Love, Sonny Styles, or an edge rusher. At first, many analysts and insiders viewed the pick as a panicked pivot, but as more information comes out, it appears to be a case of strategic smokescreens.
In a recent podcast, former NFL wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh opened up about a recent conversation with Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll about Tate.
“I talked to Brian Daboll about a month ago for about 45 minutes, and he just asked me my opinion on what I would do and who I would draft and who did I like, and he was like, ‘I just value your opinion so much. We talked, we talked, we talked, and I came away from that conversation saying they're going to draft Carnell Tate. I mean, that's pretty telling…”
Tate's pick did come as a surprise, not because of the player or the need, but because of the lack of visible connections to the receiver. Yes, he did come to Nashville on a Top 30 visit, but outside of that, it was silence, leading those outside the organization to connect other prospects to the Titans throughout the pre-draft process.
But, looking back, the signs were there all along. All offseason, both general manager Mike Borgonzi and head coach Robert Saleh talked about adding weapons for Ward, and the team brought in multiple wideouts for Top 30 visits, and he was rated as the best receiver in this class.
Sure, he may lack some measurables, and it could be a risk fourth overall, but the reality is he would have been gone had the team traded back, and they would have missed out on a coveted weapon for Ward.
Q&A
Why did the Titans choose Carnell Tate in the NFL draft?
The Titans selected Carnell Tate fourth overall as part of a strategic plan, which was hinted at by offensive coordinator Brian Daboll in discussions with T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
Who did analysts expect the Titans to draft instead of Carnell Tate?
Many analysts anticipated the Titans would draft players like Jeremiyah Love, Sonny Styles, or an edge rusher instead of Carnell Tate.
What did T.J. Houshmandzadeh say about his conversation with Brian Daboll?
T.J. Houshmandzadeh mentioned that Brian Daboll expressed high regard for his opinion and indicated that the Titans were likely to draft Carnell Tate.
