Carnell Tate, the Tennessee Titans’ No. 4 overall pick, just scored a spot on CBS Sports’ preseason All-Rookie NFL team, a selection that’s raising some serious eyebrows. This isn’t your typical feel-good story about a rookie sensation; it’s a head-scratcher when you look at his preseason numbers, or rather, his lack thereof. The guy didn’t haul in a single reception on six targets through three whole preseason games. Yeah, you read that right. Zero catches.
The No. 4 Pick Had High Expectations, Then… Nothing?
This isn’t some late-round flyer we are talking about. The Titans used premier draft capital, dropping the No. 4 overall pick on Tate, who most analysts had pegged as the top wide receiver in his class this offseason. That’s a huge vote of confidence, right? He was supposed to be the answer, the dynamic weapon to give second-year quarterback Cam Ward some much-needed help in the passing game. But the preseason? It was anything but encouraging. To go from being the consensus top WR prospect to logging zero receptions is a jarring shift. It’s a stark reminder that potential doesn’t always translate to immediate production, even for the highest-touted rookies. You gotta wonder what was going on out there for a talent like that to be completely shut out.
All-Rookie Status Despite The Stats? That’s Wild
So how does a player with no preseason catches still land on an All-Rookie team? Josh Edwards of CBS Sports is the one who made the call, listing Tate as the third receiver on his squad. Edwards even admitted there was “consideration” for other guys like Baltimore’s Ja’Kobi Lane and Miami’s Caleb Douglas, but his exact words were “cowardice won out.” That’s a bold statement, isn’t it? It sounds like even the analyst who picked him recognized the oddity of it. The Titans already have Wan’Dale Robinson, who they spent a “handsome sum of money on” in free agency, plus veteran Calvin Ridley still in the room. Despite all that, Tate is “widely expected to be the leader in targets” in Brian Daboll’s offense. That’s a massive expectation for a guy who couldn’t get one to stick in the preseason, no matter how good his size or professional route running might be. Cleveland Browns wideouts KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston were the other two receivers recognized on the team. They must be looking at Tate’s preseason stat line with some questions too.
Can One Rookie Fix Everything For A Rebuilding Team?
Look, adding a talent like Carnell Tate is supposed to alleviate some concerns, especially for an offense that desperately needs improvement from Ward in the passing game. But the source straight up says there are “some issues that he simply cannot fix.” It appears the 2026 campaign is shaping up as another rebuilding year for the Titans. So, while Tate might be a “professional route runner” with “good size” and a high draft pedigree, the pressure is on. There’s still hope he can deliver a “promising rookie season,” but he’s got to prove it on the field. The zero catches in preseason tell one story, the All-Rookie nod tells another. Which one will be true when the regular season kicks off? That’s the real question facing the Titans, and everyone watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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