The Tennessee Titans delivered NFL fans with the first major surprise of the 2026 NFL Draft.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.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.JEREMIYAH LOVE: RB drafted by the Cardinals: How he fits, fantasy outlookStill, 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 chartTate figures to be the long-term No. 1 receiver for the Titans.
Below is a look at the projected order of their depth chart.Carnell TateWan'Dale RobinsonCalvin RidleyElic EyomanorChimere DikeTate, 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.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Titans surprise with Carnell Tate draft pick: How WR fits in Tennessee