NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans hope Ohio State star Carnell Tate can team with quarterback Cam Ward and fix the offense while improving their relatively poor track record with receivers selected in the first round of the NFL draft.
The Titans made Tate the No. 4 overall selection Thursday night and the first receiver taken in this year’s three-day draft. That’s the highest pick the franchise has used at that position in the common draft era starting in 1967, a spot above the No. 5 overall selection that made Corey Davis the first receiver drafted in 2017.
“I didn’t have any idea that I was going to go this early,” Tate said.
None of the receivers drafted in the first round by this franchise since the Houston Oilers relocated to Tennessee in 1997 has lasted more than five seasons with the Titans.
General manager Mike Borgonzi said Tennessee saw Tate as the best receiver in this draft.