Titans Were Intrigued By WR Carnell Tate’s Work Against Press Coverage; Latest On Team’s QB Room

When the Cardinals selected running back Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 overall pick in last month’s draft, many expected the Titans to grab linebacker/EDGE Arvell Reese with the No. 4 choice. As we learned after the draft, the Titans were concerned about Reese’s positional fit in new head coach Robert Saleh’s defense, which is one of the reasons why Tennessee opted for wide receiver Carnell Tate instead (although the team reportedly would have taken Reese if Tate had not been available).

We also learned the Titans viewed Tate’s athleticism more highly than his official scouting combine metrics. And there was another aspect of his game that drew Tennessee to the former Buckeye: his ability against press coverage.

As ESPN’s Turron Davenport notes, Titans receivers caught just 17% of their targets last season when facing press coverage. New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll (video link via Davenport) said he will address that concern schematically with more bunch formations and motions, and Daboll added that Tate’s presence will go a long way given what he was able to put on tape while in college.

Tennessee did find an EDGE later on in Day 1, trading back into the first round to land Auburn defensive end Keldric Faulk. The team then picked up linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. in the second round, so it quickly tended to both of the defensive positions that could have been targets at No. 4. Clearly, however, adding more weaponry to second-year quarterback Cam Ward’s arsenal was a top priority, and the Titans apparently feel they landed a complete player at the top of the draft board.

In addition to his press coverage acumen, the 6-foot, 192-pound Tate earned a reputation as an excellent route runner in his three years at Ohio State, where he caught 121 passes and 14 touchdowns in 39 games. His production took off after Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka turned pro, and he did not drop a pass in 2025, per Pro Football Focus.

The Titans also added free agent WR Wan’Dale Robinson to a receiver room that includes promising 2025 draftees Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike (along with second-year tight end Gunnar Helm). The team returns veteran wideout Calvin Ridley, whose 2025 campaign was cut short by a broken fibula.

Behind Ward on the QB depth chart are new acquisitions Mitchell Trubisky and Hendon Hooker, along with holdover Will Levis. Trubisky appears locked into a role as Ward’s top backup, leaving Levis and Hooker to battle for a QB3/practice squad spot. Levis’ future in Nashville has been called into question, but he remains on the roster for the time being.

Naturally, Daboll had nothing but positive things to say about his group of passers. As Terry McCormick of TitanInsider relays, Daboll praised Ward’s professional approach and Trubisky’s familiarity with his offensive system (the OC also believes Trubisky’s teammates can benefit from the former No. 2 overall pick’s history of ups and downs). Daboll added that Levis has picked up the system quickly and will benefit from the fresh start presented by Tennessee’s offseason regime change, and he said Hooker “looked good” in his tryout with the club.