The first true surprise of the 2026 NFL Draft came with the fourth overall pick. The Tennessee Titans gave a new weapon for Cam Ward, selecting Carnell Tate, a wide receiver from Ohio State. His selection sent shockwaves through the NFL World.
NFL World Shocked by Carnell Tate’s Selection by Tennessee Titans
Most NFL analysts believed that Tate is the best wide receiver in the 2026 class. However, the Titans were a surprising landing spot for him. Tennessee already made a major move for a receiver during the offseason, signing Wan’Dale Robinson to a big four-year, $70 million contract.
Clearly, Tate’s arrival shocked those following the draft. Jordan Schultz, an NFL insider, called him “Cam Ward’s new best friend” after the pick, even though they already have Robinson and Calvin Ridley on the roster.
Carnell Tate is Cam Ward’s new best friend… https://t.co/9KFE5Bfjdf
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 24, 2026
Titans beat writer Easton Freeze seemed to be surprised by Tennessee’s move, but he also wasn’t critical of Tate’s pick, even if Sonny Styles was mostly mocked to go at No. 4.
Nick Farabaugh, a beat reporter for the Pittsburgh Steelers, noted how Tate’s early selection could propel a race for the remaining wide receivers who are expected to go in the first round, especially Makai Lemon and Jordyn Tyson.
Carnell Tate at 4, whew. WR coming off the board this early means you gotta wonder if guys like Tyson, Lemon, and others even get popped up higher.
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) April 24, 2026
The sense of shock was also shared by Geoff Schwartz, a former NFL player who now works as an analyst for Fox Sports and SiriusXM.
Wow. First major surprise https://t.co/zZu4lZRV5I
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) April 24, 2026
And finally, David Furones, a beat reporter for the Miami Dolphins who was also surprised by the Titans’ selection, called him the “No. 1 receiver” for Cam Ward, once again proving that Wan’Dale Robinson’s stock with the team isn’t as high as expected.
Wow. A bit of a surprise, but Cam Ward gets his No. 1 WR. https://t.co/5czEg8WWBf
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) April 24, 2026
Tate will be a blessing for Ward, who had his teammates struggling with drops for most of the 2025 season. His selection earned a B grade from our NFL Draft HQ, which had him as the No. 1 receiver in the class.
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“Carnell Tate is PFSN’s WR1 in the 2026 NFL Draft, and a true X-factor in waiting. He first showed promise with a 52-733-4 receiving line in 2024, producing in spite of his place as the Buckeyes’ third option alongside Jeremiah Smith and first-round NFL Draft pick Emeka Egbuka. But in 2024, Tate’s technical feel was still underdeveloped.”
Carnell Tate posted a 0% drop rate on 66 targets in 2025, per TruMedia. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/LEq3WywN1S
— PFSN (@PFSN365) April 24, 2026
The Titans hired Robert Saleh as their head coach, and they were expected to select Sonny Styles with the fourth overall pick. Going with an offensive player was a surprise, but it’s difficult to say that Tennessee made a bad pick here.
Hopefully, Tate will help elevate Ward to the next level and make him the superstar quarterback the Titans hoped he would be when they used the first overall pick on him in 2025.
