The Tennessee Titans selected former Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate with the No. 4 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. The conversation immediately shifted to whether or not Tate can become the go-to receiver franchise quarterback Cam Ward needs him to be. It's a narrative that is being exhausted.
Tate played opposite a generational receiver at Ohio State in Jeremiah Smith in 2025. As a result, Tate finished second on the Buckeyes in every major receiving category, recording 51 receptions for 875 yards and nine touchdowns. His 17.2 yards per catch was a team-high mark, but it was Smith's 87-1243-12 stat line that dominated on offense.
Assuming Tate can't be Tennessee's WR1 because Smith filled that role for the Buckeyes is downright silly. Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka suffered from a similar narrative last offseason. Egbuka recently appeared on Kay Adams' Up & Adams Show to help dispute the outrageous notion.
Emeka Egbuka says Carnell Tate can be Tennessee Titans' No. 1 wide receiver
"There was the same talk about me when I was coming out of the draft," Egbuka responded to Adams' question about Tate being a WR1. "It's all semantics. If you can play football, you can play football, and Carnell Tate can play football."
Egbuka wasn't the Buckeyes' No. 1 receiver in 2024. Smith held that title, too. That wisely didn't prevent the Buccaneers from drafting Egbuka with a first-round pick. He was excellent as a rookie, registering 63 receptions for 938 yards and six touchdowns. He now appears primed to be their No. 1 wideout in 2026 following Mike Evans' departure.
The Buckeyes have a lengthy history of having productive receivers in supporting roles. Egbuka wasn't their leading wideout in 2022 or 2023 either. Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave weren't leading receivers in 2021. All parties mentioned have developed into go-to options in the NFL. Ohio State is simply a talent factory when it comes to the receiver position.
There's every reason to believe Tate is capable of following in those footsteps as a WR2 at Ohio State to develop into a legitimate No. 1 receiver in the NFL. The Titans possess complete faith in his ability to quickly become a volume option for Ward and Brian Daboll's offense. Egbuka put it perfectly. Tate will play football at an incredibly high level in Tennessee.
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