The Tennessee Titans surprised many fans and NFL draft analysts when they selected Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate with the No. 4 overall pick.
Count former Titans offensive lineman Taylor Lewan, though, as one of Tate's believers. Lewan, who now hosts the "Bussin' With the Boys" podcast with former Titans teammate Will Compton, thinks that Tate is just the kind of weapon that second-year quarterback Cam Ward needs — even if Tate played for his alma mater's biggest rival.
"Coming from a Michigan man himself, I’ll be honest, if you’re a GM and you’re looking at an Ohio State wide receiver, you’re probably safe," Lewan said on the podcast.
Carnell Tate, left and Keldric Faulk enter the room as the Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.From left, general manager Mike Borgonzi, wide receiver Carnell Tate, edge defender Keldric Faulk and coach Robert Saleh take questions as The Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.Coach Robert Saleh takes questions as the Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections wide receiver Carnell Tate and edge defender Keldric Faulk at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.Edge defender Keldric Faulk takes questions at the Titans' practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. He was the Titans second draft pick for 2026.Wide receiver Carnell Tate takes questions at the Titans' practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. He was the Titans first draft pick for 2026.Wide receiver Carnell Tate takes questions at the Titans' practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. He was the Titans first draft pick for 2026.From left, general manager Mike Borgonzi, wide receiver Carnell Tate, edge defender Keldric Faulk and coach Robert Saleh take questions as The Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.1 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkCarnell Tate, left and Keldric Faulk enter the room as the Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.1 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkCarnell Tate, left and Keldric Faulk enter the room as the Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.2 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkFrom left, general manager Mike Borgonzi, wide receiver Carnell Tate, edge defender Keldric Faulk and coach Robert Saleh take questions as The Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.3 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkCoach Robert Saleh takes questions as the Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections wide receiver Carnell Tate and edge defender Keldric Faulk at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.4 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkEdge defender Keldric Faulk takes questions at the Titans' practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. He was the Titans second draft pick for 2026.5 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkWide receiver Carnell Tate takes questions at the Titans' practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. He was the Titans first draft pick for 2026.6 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkWide receiver Carnell Tate takes questions at the Titans' practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. He was the Titans first draft pick for 2026.7 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkFrom left, general manager Mike Borgonzi, wide receiver Carnell Tate, edge defender Keldric Faulk and coach Robert Saleh take questions as The Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.Carnell Tate stats at Ohio StateTate caught 48 passes for 838 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025 after hauling in 52 receptions for 733 yards and four TDs the season before as the Buckeyes won the national championship. Coming out of high school at IMG Academy, Tate was a 5-star recruit and the No. 22 prospect nationally.
Ohio State has sent an army of talented receivers to the NFL in recent years, including Michael Thomas, Terry McLaurin, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka. Tate played alongside Harrison and Egbuka during his career. Last season, he lined up across from Jeremiah Smith, who's considered a potential No. 1 pick in 2027.
"Great football player, incredible routes, finds those holes in zone," Lewan said of Tate. "A lot of people, the big knock on him was he was the No. 2 receiver on his team last year. What happens when you don’t have a guy like Jeremiah Smith taking all the attention away from you?"
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Lewan said he was surprised to see the Arizona Cardinals select Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3, one spot ahead of the Titans. Love had been heavily mocked to the Tennessee Titans in the weeks leading up to the draft.
The rationale for taking Love was to surround Ward with talent after the 2025 No. 1 pick showed promise during his rookie season. Lewan thinks the same applies to the Tate selection.
"You need to give (Ward) as many weapons as possible," Lewan said. "He’s a confident man, you gotta get that confidence to an all-time high going into this year."
Jacob Shames can be reached by email at jshames@gannett.com and on X/Twitter @Jacob_Shames.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What Taylor Lewan said about Titans first-round pick Carnell Tate