Carnell Tate Selected #4 by the Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward Gets A New Target

Carnell Tate is one of the top wide receiver prospects in the draft. The Titans need one. With a young quarterback in Cam Ward. In the first round, quarterback Cam Ward gets a new weapon. Carnell Tate only started one year at Ohio State, but he had a great season. There was some doubt he would get selected this early because he did not start much, ran a slow 40-yard dash time at the Scouting Combine, and played in the shadow of his teammate at Ohio State, Jeremiah Smith.

Carnell Tate will be valuable to any National Football League team, despite these questions. In particular, he fits a glaring need for the Titans at wide receiver. Do you think Tate will have a productive career in the National Football League?

Carnell Tate 2020 NFL Draft Prospect Summary

Carnell Tate excited National Football League teams by tracking throws well at top speed and making adjustments to run under them. Thus, he can make even poor throws look good. Imagine that skill for Ward. Carnell Tate has great timing, body control, and a catch radius. Pass catching comes effortlessly with soft, strong hands, and he consistently works back on throws. That makes quarterbacks happy and enhances their value, which applies to him.

He is polished and comes from “Wide Receiver University.” There is a great pedigree in the League at that position from that university. Everyone wants a Buckeye receiver. Now the Titans have one.

Carnell Tate’s Strengths

Tate has several strengths that made him attractive to National Football League teams. He fits a need for the Washington Commander. Here is a listing of his greatest strengths.

• Can slip press and get into stride quickly for vertical advantage.
• Great agility, speed, and body control.
• Great personal makeup, with a touching personal story.
• Consistent and intelligent route runner who often gets defenders out of position.
• Route tempo and play speed can overwhelm lesser corners.
• Works back on most throws, eliminating playmaking angles for defenders.
• Dominates in the air.
• No wasted motion; smooth turnover in stride, and a burst to separate from defenders.
• Outstanding ball tracking and catch focus downfield.
• Elite high-point timing and hand strength.
• Good spatial awareness against the zone, which can help him take advantage of zones.
• Can win contested balls.

Carnell Tate’s Weaknesses

He does have some weaknesses that give National Football League teams some pause. Most importantly, his body type and some physical skills are lacking. Here is a list of his weaknesses.

• Lacks the ideal build and frame as a primary wide receiver candidate.
• Long-press corners can limit him.
• Tips routes with early pad movement.
• Average run block by NFL standards.
• Might have some durability concerns.

Carnell Tate Fit with the Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans have a young quarterback in Cam Ward, who now gets another target. The wide receiver room in Tennessee is mixed with young players Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike, veteran Calvin Ridley, and free agent addition Wan’Dale Robinson. Tennessee got another young playmaker for Cam Ward in Carnell Tate. It was a little surprising that with a defensive-minded coach in Robert Salah, the former head coach of the New York Jets, the Titans did not go with a defensive player, but they got a winner in Tate. Plus the team addressed a need.