Newly Drafted Titans WR Carnell Tate Receives Message from Hall of Famer

Former Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate was universally evaluated as a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but the Tennessee Titans‘ selection of Tate at No. 4 overall was far from the consensus projection.

Many draft analysts and NFL reporters believed the Titans would help quarterback Cam Ward, their 2025 No. 1 overall pick, by taking Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 4.

Instead, the Titans gave him Tate, which is a pretty excellent consolation prize after Love went No. 3 overall to Arizona.

Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson is keenly aware of the pressure that comes with being the first receiver off the board - the Detroit Lions selected Johnson second overall in 2007 - and has advice for Tate.

“Find a pro that you see that’s doing it the right way, putting the work in, and just find a way to endear yourself to the fans,” Johnson said on “The Rich Eisen Show” on Friday. “The way to do that is by working your tail off. Really focusing on what you’re good at and what you’re bad at - making that list and going through that list and putting work into each of those different attributes each and every day.”

Johnson added, “Get yourself a great quarterback. Cam Ward seems like he can be that guy, potentially, in the future.”

Johnson played his entire career with the Lions from 2007 to 2015. His 1,964 yards receiving in the 2012 season remains the NFL’s all-time single-season receiving yards record.

Calvin “Megatron” Johnson is an impossibly high bar for any rookie receiver. NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein compared Tate to New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave.

The Saints drafted Olave out of Ohio State 11th overall in 2022, and Olave has crossed the 1,000-yard threshold in three of his four NFL seasons. Titans fans would sign up for that immediately.

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This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 5:18 PM.