Once again, the Ohio State Buckeyes made a couple of headlines for the top 10 picks. Reports claim that there were 11 players projected to be picked in the 2026 draft, with Carnell Tate becoming the first Buckeye to get drafted. The $6.3 billion Tennessee Titans made the move at No. 4, giving its offense an immediate pass-catching addition.

Some people were a bit surprised to see him get picked over fellow Buckeyes like Arvell Reese, Caleb Downs, Sonny Styles, and Kayden McDonald. All of them were highly talked about and seen as strong draft options, so it definitely raised a few eyebrows. But in reality, this decision had very little to do with those players or their talent. It mostly comes down to team needs, and the Titans clearly needed a wide receiver more than any other position.

When Tate heard his name called in Pittsburgh, he knew that he had made some history. The moment mattered even more because Tate tied Marvin Harrison Jr. as the highest-drafted receiver in Ohio State history at No. 4. His selection also pushed the Buckeyes to five straight drafts with a first-round wide receiver.

This elite group includes Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Emeka Egbuka. Back in the 2022 NFL Draft, Wilson and Olave were selected back-to-back, with the New York Jets taking Wilson at No. 10 overall and the New Orleans Saints picking Olave at No. 11. In 2023, Jaxon Smith-Njigba became the first wide receiver drafted, even though he went slightly later at No. 20 overall to the Seattle Seahawks.

Then, in 2024, Marvin Harrison Jr. continued the trend by going as high as No. 4 overall to the Arizona Cardinals. Most recently, in 2025, Emeka Egbuka was selected No. 19 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, adding yet another Buckeye to the list. Smith-Njigba and Harrison were both the top wide receivers in their draft classes, and now Tate joins that group as well. This means Ohio State has produced the first wide receiver off the board in three of the past four years, which is very impressive.

Tate played on a very talented offense at Ohio State. Like Egbuka, he had to share the reps with other stars, including Marvin Harrison Jr. and young talent Jeremiah Smith, who is expected to be a top draft pick next year. Because of this, Tate never had a 1,000-yard season, but he was still very consistent.

He caught at least 50 passes in both his sophomore and junior seasons and had over 700 receiving yards in both 2024 and 2025. In 2024, he helped Ohio State win a national championship and had a big game in the Cotton Bowl semifinal against Texas, catching seven passes for 87 yards. In 2025, he further showed his value as a deep threat, hauling in 11 receptions of 20 or more yards. According to Pro Football Focus, only two other Big Ten receivers had more such plays that season, and one of them was his own teammate, Jeremiah Smith, who had 12.

Carnell Tate did not need massive volume to stand out, but let us explain why Tennessee saw top-five value in him.

Why Carnell Tate is a win for the Titans?

Heading into this week, Jeremiyah Love was the most-rumored target. But general manager Mike Borgonzi didn’t hesitate on the Ohio man once the Arizona Cardinals decided to go for Love with their 3rd overall pick. Tate can now step in as a player who could quickly become quarterback Cam Ward’s favorite target on the very first day in the office.

Draft expert Marcus Mosher shared his thoughts right after the pick, and he had high praise for Tate. He pointed out that even though Tate played behind Jeremiah Smith at Ohio State, he still showed everything teams look for in a top wide receiver. According to Mosher, Tate can run every route, rarely makes mistakes, and has very reliable hands. He also said Tate can play all three receiver positions and is ready to contribute right away in the NFL. In 2025, he put up 51 catches, 875 yards, nine touchdowns, and 17.2 yards per catch, which helps explain why he was the pick.

For the Titans, this pick makes a lot of sense. If they couldn’t get Love, they needed to give their young quarterback a strong and dependable receiver. They had already added Wan’Dale Robinson, but Tate now gives them a true No. 1 option in the passing game. Instead of going for a defensive player, the Titans focused on helping their offense, which shows how much they believe in building around Cam Ward.

One of the biggest reasons Tate stands out is his consistency. Last season at Ohio State, he didn’t drop a single pass. It’s up to Tate now to lift the curse of Tennessee WR being the place where great wide receivers go or are drafted to die.