Is No. 4 overall too early for the Titans to take Carnell Tate?

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate answers questions from the media during the NFL Scouting Combine on February 27, 2026 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The positional value debate continues to occur for the Tennessee Titans at No. 4 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Either you’re pro Jeremiyah Love there or you’re not. Objectively, whether or not you believe Love is capable of helping Cam Ward as a young quarterback, there’s no denying that a premier wide receiver helps more than a premier running back does.

The consensus best wide receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft is Ohio State’s Carnell Tate. There’s no denying that Love is a better overall prospect than Tate is. But if the Titans even have them in the same vicinity as prospects, it’s reasonable to believe they’d prioritize the wide receiver, a higher valued position.

There’s been some recent buzz for Tate going higher than initially expected. NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah made a recent appearance on The Mina Kimes Show. Jeremiah said he believes the Tate conversation begins with the New York Jets at No. 2 overall.

There was some controversy over Tate’s 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine. It was officially recorded as 4.53. There’s nothing wrong with 4.53, especially at 6-foot-2, 192 pounds. It was however reported that Tate’s hand-time result was approximately 4.47, which would represent a meaningful improvement.

On film, Tate is a savvy and nuanced route runner who creates easy separation at his size. The former Buckeyes standout is also a vertical field-stretcher with strong hands and contested catch ability. Tate lacks elite deep speed, and the biggest knock on his game is the absence of generating explosive yards-after-catch ability.

Some have questioned Tate’s ceiling. Tate is a 21-year-old ascending receiver who is clearly still improving. He produced 875 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025 despite playing opposite a generational talent in Jeremiah Smith. Perhaps we’d view Tate more favorably during this pre-draft process if he wasn’t Smith’s teammate.