Tennessee Titans Select Wide Receiver Carnell Tate and Edge Rusher Keldric Faulk in First Round of 2026 NFL Draft

Apr 24, 2026, 15:43

Introduction

The Tennessee Titans made two first-round selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, held on April 23 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. With the fourth overall pick, the team chose Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate. Later, the Titans traded back into the first round, acquiring the 31st pick from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for picks 35, 69, and 165, to select Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk. These moves are intended to give second-year quarterback Cam Ward a main receiving target and to strengthen the defensive front under new head coach Robert Saleh.

Main Body

The selection of Carnell Tate at No. 4 shows that the Titans considered him the best wide receiver in the draft class, according to General Manager Mike Borgonzi. Tate, who is 6-foot-2 and 192 pounds (some sources say 6-foot-3 and 190–195 pounds), recorded 51 catches for 875 yards and nine touchdowns in 11 games during his final season at Ohio State, missing three games due to injury. NFL.com gave him a prospect grade of 6.7, which means he is expected to be a first-year starter. Football analysts have pointed out his ability to catch contested passes—an 85.7% contested-catch rate in 2025—and the fact that he did not drop any passes on 66 targets that season. His 40-yard dash time of 4.53 seconds was noted by some observers as a possible weakness, but the Titans emphasized his route-running efficiency, ball-tracking skills, and catch radius. Borgonzi stated that Tate’s ability to make contested catches downfield and adjust his body would complement Ward’s skills. The acquisition of Keldric Faulk at No. 31 involved a trade that cost the Titans three picks. Faulk, who measures 6-foot-5 7/8 inches and 276 pounds, is considered a strong run defender but has limited pass-rush production. Borgonzi compared Faulk to Arik Armstead, a player Saleh coached in San Francisco, noting Faulk’s length and ability to play both outside and inside. Analysts have noted that Faulk’s youth—he will turn 21 shortly before his NFL debut—and physical traits give him potential to improve, especially under Saleh’s defensive system. Some observers expressed doubt about his ability to rush the passer, while others viewed the fit as promising given the Titans’ existing edge rushers, including Jermaine Johnson and Femi Oladejo. The Titans entered the draft after a 3–14 season, their fourth consecutive losing campaign. The team fired head coach Brian Callahan after a 1–5 start in 2025 and hired Saleh in January. Brian Daboll, formerly of the New York Giants, was appointed offensive coordinator. Tennessee ranked 30th in the NFL in passing yards per game (166.1) in 2025 despite Ward starting every game. The team was the highest spender in free agency, mainly adding defensive players, and had signed wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson while restructuring Calvin Ridley’s contract. Fan reactions to the first-round picks were mixed: some expressed satisfaction with addressing two key needs, while others criticized the decision to select a wide receiver at No. 4 instead of trading down or improving the offensive line. A subset of fans questioned Tate’s speed and the cost of trading up for Faulk. Furthermore, Tate became the second Ohio State wide receiver selected in the top five of an NFL draft in the past decade, following Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2024. His selection ahead of Ohio State teammates Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles—both defensive players—surprised some observers. The top of the draft also saw quarterback Fernando Mendoza go first overall to the Las Vegas Raiders and running back Jeremiyah Love third to the Arizona Cardinals. The Titans’ decision to prioritize offensive skill players in the first round reflects a broader trend among teams seeking to improve offensive production.

Conclusion

The Tennessee Titans addressed two positional needs in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft by selecting wide receiver Carnell Tate and edge rusher Keldric Faulk. The success of these selections will depend on Tate’s transition to a primary receiving role and Faulk’s development under defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. The team’s offseason moves, including coaching changes and free-agent acquisitions, show a focus on improving both offensive and defensive performance after a long period of losing seasons.

Vocabulary Learning

acquisition (n.)
the act of obtaining something收購；獲得
Example:The acquisition of Keldric Faulk involved a trade that cost the Titans three picks.
complement (v.)
to make something complete or better by adding something else補充；補足
Example:Borgonzi stated that Tate’s ability to make contested catches would complement Ward’s skills.
contested (adj.)
disputed or competed for; caught in a situation where a defender is close受干擾的；爭搶的
Example:Analysts highlighted his ability to catch contested passes.
efficiency (n.)
the ability to do something without wasting time or energy效率
Example:The Titans emphasized his route-running efficiency, ball-tracking skills, and catch radius.
prospect (n.)
a possibility or chance of future success; a candidate considered likely to succeed前景；潛在候選人
Example:NFL.com gave him a prospect grade of 6.7, meaning he is expected to be a first-year starter.

Sentence Learning

Tate, who is 6-foot-2 and 192 pounds (some sources say 6-foot-3 and 190–195 pounds), recorded 51 catches for 875 yards and nine touchdowns in 11 games during his final season at Ohio State, missing three games due to injury.
Relative clause (who) adds extra information about the subject without starting a new sentence. It helps combine details smoothly.關係從句（who）在不另起一句的情況下補充主語的額外信息，有助於流暢地整合細節。
NFL.com gave him a prospect grade of 6.7, which means he is expected to be a first-year starter.
Relative clause (which) refers to the whole previous idea, and passive voice (is expected) shifts focus to the expectation rather than who expects it.關係從句（which）指代前文整個概念，被動語態（is expected）將焦點轉移到期望本身而非期望者。
His 40-yard dash time of 4.53 seconds was noted by some observers as a possible weakness, but the Titans emphasized his route-running efficiency, ball-tracking skills, and catch radius.
Passive voice (was noted) highlights the action rather than the doer; the linking word 'but' shows contrast between two viewpoints.被動語態（was noted）強調動作而非執行者；連接詞「but」顯示兩種觀點之間的對比。
Some observers expressed doubt about his ability to rush the passer, while others viewed the fit as promising given the Titans’ existing edge rushers, including Jermaine Johnson and Femi Oladejo.
Linking word 'while' introduces a contrast between two groups' opinions, organizing the sentence to compare different perspectives.連接詞「while」引入兩組意見的對比，組織句子以比較不同觀點。
Tennessee ranked 30th in the NFL in passing yards per game (166.1) in 2025 despite Ward starting every game.
Linking word 'despite' introduces a contrast between the team's low ranking and the fact that their quarterback played all games, showing an unexpected outcome.連接詞「despite」引入球隊排名低與四分衛全勤之間的對比，顯示出乎意料的結果。