Despite having a defensive minded head coach in Robert Saleh, the Tennessee Titans selected former Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate with the fourth overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Titans used their premium pick to invest in the growth and development of franchise quarterback Cam Ward. The smartest thing Mike Borgonzi and Saleh can do is surround Ward with talent.
That's not something Saleh did enough of during his failed head coaching gig with the New York Jets. Saleh's Jets were consistently stellar on defense, but a failure to solve the offense was his undoing. For him to be successful in Tennessee, he'll need to make decisions that prioritize Ward.
On Friday, the Titans introduced both of their first round picks, Tate and Keldric Faulk, to the local media. When asked about choosing Tate at No. 4 overall, Saleh immediately referenced how his presence will support Ward's growth as a franchise quarterback.
NFL Draft: Signing off on Carnell Tate pick proves new Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh has learned from his past mistakes
"Not to say he's the most important piece, but he's pretty important, and that's our quarterback," Saleh told Paul Kuharsky about choosing Tate at No. 4 to play with Ward. "We're doing everything we can to help him and surround him with players who can get the ball in their hands and go score. Carnell [Tate] was obviously by far the top receiver on our board. When we got to No. 4, it was a very easy decision to make."
The Jets ranked bottom-five in scoring for three consecutive seasons when Saleh was the head coach. They finished bottom 10 again in 2024, when Saleh was fired midway through the season. He cycled through various offensive coordinators throughout his tenure. In Tennessee, he nailed the coordinator hire by appointing Brian Daboll.
The Titans finished 30th in scoring during Ward's rookie season. Head coach Brian Callahan was fired partially due to his failure to maximize Ward and the offense. Saleh is installing his defense with familiar pieces, but signing off on Tate's selection provides clear proof that he understands his fate will be directly tied to the growth (or lack thereof) of his quarterback.
Tate should provide Ward with a reliable and explosive option in the passing game. The Jets' offense didn't have any consistency at quarterback or on offense when Saleh was leading the charge. Saleh is determined to do everything in his power to invest in Ward, and the Tate pick proves he's putting actions behind his words.
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