Titans’ New Dynamic Duo of Ward and Tate Showing Signs of Progress Already

With the 4th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans select wide receiver Carnell Tate. Wait a second—after hiring Robert Saleh to be their new head coach, and with a draft widely highlighted by defensive standouts, the Titans went with a possession receiver from Ohio State?

Robert Saleh is known as a defensive-minded coach who builds his teams from the back end forward. His defenses in San Francisco and with the Jets were consistently among the league leaders in total defense. So when the Titans went with an offensive weapon fourth overall, it was the first real surprise of the draft, and it raised some eyebrows across the league.

Outside of Notre Dame’s star running back Jeremiyah Love and Heisman trophy winner and first overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, this draft featured a top-10 or top-15 prospect list comprised of impact players mostly on defense. So, when Love went number three to the Cardinals, most people believed the Titans would take a playmaker on the defensive side of the ball—maybe a Swiss Army knife playmaker like Ohio State’s Arvell Reese to play edge. Reese is projected to become a Bosa-like pass rusher, the kind of player Saleh coached and maximized in San Francisco. 

But GM Mike Borgonzi and Saleh decided to give their second-year franchise quarterback the weapon he so desperately needed. The Titans’ franchise rests in the hands of second-year starter Cam Ward, who showed genuine signs of being a star last season, flashing the arm talent and mobility that made him a top pick. But the offense struggled for a number of reasons. Young quarterbacks need a lot of help to be successful—a solid offensive line, a strong running game, a defense that keeps games close, maybe even an elite tight end—but having a true go-to receiver who can consistently move the chains is the kind of priority that changes everything. The Titans clearly felt it was the missing piece for Ward to take the next step.

Chiefs’ future Hall of Famer Patrick Mahomes had Tyreek Hill. Cincinnati’s All-Pro signal-caller Joe Burrow has Ja’Marr Chase. Even the Washington Commanders’ rising star Jayden Daniels has a very dependable Terry McLaurin to go to in a pinch. Now, Cam Ward has Carnell Tate, and the organization believes this connection will pay dividends for years to come. 

The Titans couldn't have been happier after their first round of OTAs when Ward and Tate stayed after practice, throwing routes together, talking through adjustments, and getting a feel for how each other thinks on the field. That kind of chemistry doesn't happen overnight. It's built rep by rep, conversation by conversation.

The offseason is where players truly refine their craft in preparation for training camp and the long grind of a season. So don't be surprised come October, when the Titans face a third-and-long, if you see Cam Ward escape pressure in the pocket and find a wide-open Carnell Tate working back toward the quarterback for a big first down. Those are the plays that get fans on their feet and remind us why we watch. But know that play has been run and repped a thousand times in practice long before it ever shows up on a Sunday.