The Tennessee Titans made a somewhat surprising decision early in the 2026 NFL Draft. When most people thought they'd kick off the Robert Saleh era with a defensive player, they gave Cam Ward their WR1 of the future with Carnell Tate.
Given the state of the Titans' offense, adding a prime weapon to address their woes was certainly a concern for the Indianapolis Colts, at least on paper. However, the Ohio State product entered the league with big question marks, and he hasn't done much to ease the doubts.
Through two preseason games, Tate has yet to record his first — unofficial — reception as a pro. He's drawn just five targets, but he hasn't registered a single stat, and while it's still early, he may not be much of a threat in 2026 after all.
The Indianapolis Colts may not have to worry about Carnell Tate
Tate entered the league as the most NFL-ready wide receiver in his class. His sharp route-running, solid ball skills, and body control made him an intriguing pickup. But there was also plenty to consider with that move.
For starters, he was used to drawing lesser matchups as star cornerbacks focused on Jeremiah Smith, and he wasn't particularly explosive or elusive, casting doubts about his ability to dominate at the next level. Thus far, he hasn't done much to silence the critics.
Granted, some of that has also been due to Cam Ward's seemingly endless struggles. He's inaccurate, looks lost in the pocket, and fails to go through his progressions on almost every dropback; that's a lot to overcome for any wide receiver, especially a rookie.
The Colts' secondary has drawn rave reviews through training camp. Even with Charvarius Ward's health always being a concern, they should be well-equipped to deal with good wide receiver tandems.
Of course, this is just the preseason. Recently, Ja'Marr Chase looked like a huge bust who couldn't catch, only to emerge as one of the most physical and dominant wide receivers in the game. Chase, however, was always a blue-chip prospect, unlike Tate, who benefitted from playing in a weaker draft class.
As things stand now, Wan'Dale Robinson will most likely be the first guy in the pecking order for Brian Daboll's defense, with Sauce Gardner shadowing him in coverage. That leaves Charvarius Ward, Justin Walley, Cam Bynum, and Cam Taylor-Britt free to deal with the rookie, depending on where he lines up, and that's a matchup the Colts should love ten times out of ten.
For years, the Titans have struggled to keep up with the rest of the AFC South, with the Colts currently riding a six-game winning streak against them. It takes a village, and the Titans should be better than what they've shown in the preseason after spending big bucks in the offseason, but it might be a while before they become a threat again.
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