The Tennessee Titans are off on summer vacation and won't return until training camp begins in late July. Coach Robert Saleh and general manager Mike Borgonzi have spent half a year reinventing the Titans depth chart in Saleh's image, making changes in an attempt to create depth and playmaking dynamism after back-to-back 3-14 seasons.
To bridge the summer break into the season, The Tennessean is looking at each Titans position group individually and evaluating the big questions that will determine how the Titans' 2026 season goes. We now look at Carnell Tate and the Titans' wide receivers.
Since the Minnesota Vikings drafted Jefferson in 2020, he's made four All-Pro teams and put up six straight 1,000-yard seasons. His name's never been far from the "best receiver in football" debate, and for good reason. No one in NFL history's accounted for more receiving yards in his first six seasons than Jefferson.
Jefferson was the fifth receiver off the board when the Vikings picked him No. 22 overall in 2020. In retrospect, it's hard to separate Jefferson's now-laughable draft slide from his status on one of the best college football teams ever. Jefferson was the second fiddle on LSU's championship 2019 receiving corps behind Ja'Marr Chase, a superstar prospect who's lived up to his billing and has a good shot at breaking Jefferson's first-six-years-in-the-league receiving record in 2026.
Carnell Tate, left and Keldric Faulk enter the room as the Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)Tennessee Titans first round draft pick wide receiver Carnell Tate, 4th overall pick, stands for a portrait at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)Tennessee Titans first round draft pick edge Keldric Faulk, 31st pick overall, stands for portraits at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)Tennessee Titans first round draft picks wide receiver Carnell Tate, second left, and edge Keldric Faulk field questions with the media with Mike Borgonzi, general manager, left, and Coach Robert Saleh at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)Tennessee Titans first round draft picks wide receiver Carnell Tate, second left, and edge Keldric Faulk stand for pictures with Mike Borgonzi, general manager, left, and Coach Robert Saleh at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)Tennessee Titans first round draft pick Carnell Tate, second left, fields questions from the media at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. Also pictured are, from left, Mike Borgonzi, general manager, fellow first-rounder Keldric Faulk and Coach Robert Saleh. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)Tennessee Titans first round draft pick Carnell Tate, center fields questions from the media with Mike Borgonzi, general manager, right, and fellow first-rounder Keldric Faulk at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)Tennessee Titans first round draft picks wide receiver Carnell Tate, left, and edge Keldric Faulk stand for pictures at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)Tennessee Titans Coach Robert Saleh, right, takes a question from the media with their first round draft picks and Mike Borgonzi, general manager, at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. Titans first round draft picks are wide receiver Carnell Tate, second left, and edge Keldric Faulk. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)Tennessee Titans first round draft picks wide receiver Carnell Tate, left, and edge Keldric Faulk field questions from the media at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)Tennessee Titans first round draft pick edge Keldric Faulk, 31st pick overall, addresses the media at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)Tennessee Titans first round draft pick Carnell Tate, right, fields questions from the media with Mike Borgonzi, general manager, at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)Tennessee Titans Coach Robert Saleh fields questions from the media at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)Tennessee Titans first round draft pick wide receiver Carnell Tate, 4th overall pick, stands for a portrait with his family at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)Tennessee Titans first round draft pick edge Keldric Faulk, 31st pick overall, stands for a portrait with his family at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)From left, general manager Mike Borgonzi, wide receiver Carnell Tate, edge defender Keldric Faulk and coach Robert Saleh take questions as The Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)Coach Robert Saleh takes questions as the Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections wide receiver Carnell Tate and edge defender Keldric Faulk at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)Wide receiver Carnell Tate takes questions at the Titans' practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. He was the Titans first draft pick for 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)Wide receiver Carnell Tate takes questions at the Titans' practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. He was the Titans first draft pick for 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)1 / 22
Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk
Carnell Tate, left and Keldric Faulk enter the room as the Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk
Tennessee Titans first round draft pick wide receiver Carnell Tate, 4th overall pick, stands for a portrait at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk
Tennessee Titans first round draft pick edge Keldric Faulk, 31st pick overall, stands for portraits at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk
Tennessee Titans first round draft picks wide receiver Carnell Tate, second left, and edge Keldric Faulk field questions with the media with Mike Borgonzi, general manager, left, and Coach Robert Saleh at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk
Tennessee Titans first round draft picks wide receiver Carnell Tate, second left, and edge Keldric Faulk stand for pictures with Mike Borgonzi, general manager, left, and Coach Robert Saleh at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk
Tennessee Titans first round draft pick Carnell Tate, second left, fields questions from the media at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. Also pictured are, from left, Mike Borgonzi, general manager, fellow first-rounder Keldric Faulk and Coach Robert Saleh. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk
Tennessee Titans first round draft pick Carnell Tate, center fields questions from the media with Mike Borgonzi, general manager, right, and fellow first-rounder Keldric Faulk at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk
Tennessee Titans first round draft picks wide receiver Carnell Tate, left, and edge Keldric Faulk stand for pictures at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk
Tennessee Titans Coach Robert Saleh, right, takes a question from the media with their first round draft picks and Mike Borgonzi, general manager, at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. Titans first round draft picks are wide receiver Carnell Tate, second left, and edge Keldric Faulk. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk
Tennessee Titans first round draft picks wide receiver Carnell Tate, left, and edge Keldric Faulk field questions from the media at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk
Tennessee Titans first round draft pick edge Keldric Faulk, 31st pick overall, addresses the media at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk
Tennessee Titans first round draft pick Carnell Tate, right, fields questions from the media with Mike Borgonzi, general manager, at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk
Tennessee Titans Coach Robert Saleh fields questions from the media at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk
Tennessee Titans first round draft pick wide receiver Carnell Tate, 4th overall pick, stands for a portrait with his family at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk
Tennessee Titans first round draft pick edge Keldric Faulk, 31st pick overall, stands for a portrait with his family at Vanderbilt Health Football Center Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk
From left, general manager Mike Borgonzi, wide receiver Carnell Tate, edge defender Keldric Faulk and coach Robert Saleh take questions as The Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk
Coach Robert Saleh takes questions as the Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections wide receiver Carnell Tate and edge defender Keldric Faulk at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk
Wide receiver Carnell Tate takes questions at the Titans' practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. He was the Titans first draft pick for 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
By taking Carnell Tate with the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Titans seem to be betting against the Jefferson trap. Like Jefferson, Tate played behind an all-world draft prospect on one of the best college teams of the century in Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith. Unlike Jefferson, Tate was the first receiver off the board in his draft class anyway. When a team picks a receiver No. 4 overall, there's no ambiguity: The Titans see him as a No. 1, even if Ohio State didn't have the space to make him one.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement
Here's the problem with this comparison, though: Jefferson was a much better college player than Tate. Jefferson caught 111 passes in 2019. Tate caught 121 passes in three years. Jefferson produced like a No. 1 on a team that had two unstoppable options. Tate didn't. There's a little more imagination required to believe Tate is capable of being that guy.
So, what are Tate's No. 1 traits?
Well, he's got huge hands, he's a smooth route runner, he wins jump balls with his physicality and in-air contortion abilities and he's got the right mental makeup to prepare, adapt and improve as a pro. And what's he missing? He doesn't have elite size or speed and his track record isn't particularly dominant despite often drawing coverage against No. 2 and No. 3 cornerbacks.
Here's a good way to sum up Tate: In early June, the NFL put out a social video of Tate and Jets rookie Omar Cooper Jr., watching silhouettes of famous wide receivers and having to guess who they were looking at. Tate correctly identified Seahawks standout Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb and Eagles rookie Makai Lemon. The only player he got wrong was... Carnell Tate. Looking at himself, Tate guessed he was watching Jefferson. Cooper, watching Tate's silhouette, also guessed he was seeing Jefferson's tape.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement
Squint and you can see it. The Titans certainly did.
Will Wan'Dale Robinson still be a target magnet? Probably. Expect him to lead the team, even if most of his targets are short-yardage throws.
Can Ridley stay healthy? We'll see!
What are Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor's roles? Rotational backups, although Dike's speed makes him an asset.
How many receivers will the Titans carry? Six on the active roster feels like the ceiling, though don't be shocked if three or four make it to the practice squad.
Is Tyren Montgomery a serious threat to make the roster? Too talented to not at least consider for the practice squad, but too raw to put ahead of Oliver and Osborn right now.