The Houston Texans spent last season making life miserable for opposing wideouts. Only four receivers got to 100-plus yards against that secondary over the course of the year, and Houston went 2-2 in the games when it couldn’t keep a pass catcher under that line.
That kind of backdrop is exactly why James Palmer’s latest praise for Carnell Tate lands with some weight. The former Ohio State standout, whom the Tennessee Titans drafted as the first wide receiver off the board at No. 4 overall, is already being talked about as one of the receivers most likely to rise quickly in the new class. Palmer made it clear he’s firmly in that camp during his Insider’s Notebook segment.
“Tate is really going to be the guy that Cam Ward [quarterback] relies on,” began Palmer at the onset of his support for Tate during the segment. He continued,
“He is the number one. The Titans are going to be make that abundantly clear that he is their alpha right from the jump.
He does everything right. He is always exactly where you need him to be.
He is meticulous in the way that he handles his details. He's about as consistent as a football player as you can have, and I think that's a big part of what the Titans are getting.”
Tate’s final season at Ohio State backed up that kind of confidence. He finished with 51 catches for 875 yards, a 17.2-yard average, and nine touchdowns. His production helped send the Buckeyes to the Cotton Bowl against the Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Quarterfinals, where they fell 24-14.
Even with that loss, Tate still closed his college career with a national title from the 2024-2025 season. Ohio State beat Notre Dame 34-23 in that game, and Tate chipped in two receptions for 35 yards, averaging 17.5 yards per catch.
Now he enters the NFL with a championship résumé and plenty of attention on what comes next. Tate is being viewed as a difference-maker at the position heading into the 2026 season, and even as a rookie, he has the kind of profile that can change a game fast. Houston’s defense still ranked seventh in the league in receiving yards allowed per game to receivers in 2026 at 205.1, but the late-season leakiness is the part DeMeco Ryans and Matt Burke will want to clean up.
If Tate gets loose against that Texans secondary, it’ll be appointment viewing.
In Other News...
Texans Tied To A Risky Cornerback Move Fans Will Debate
The Texans are among four teams that have checked in on former Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold, a former first-round pick whose NFL path has been interrupted by off-field trouble. Houston has already brought Arnold in for a workout, and he has another visit lined up, putting the team in the middle of a situation that blends roster need with plenty of caution.
The Colts, Jets and Seahawks have also shown interest, which suggests there is still a market for Arnold despite the circumstances surrounding his release in Detroit after his arrest. He is facing serious legal issues and has already posted a $1 million bond, with a court appearance coming in June, so any team weighing a move will have to balance the talent with the uncertainty that comes with it. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Linked To Troubling Terrion Arnold Interest During Legal Drama
Terrion Arnolds court appearance this week added another layer to a situation that has already put his football future in a holding pattern. Arnold was back before a judge for a hearing on whether he must wear a GPS monitor while on house arrest pending trial on felony charges, and his agent used the moment to signal that interest around the league has not gone away even as the legal process continues. For now, Arnold remains confined to his home except for work and meetings with his attorneys.
The legal uncertainty is what makes the next step so tricky for any team that might be considering him, including Houston. His agents testimony suggested there is still a real market for Arnold, but the unresolved question of how the NFL handles the case could shape whether that interest turns into something more concrete. For a player trying to get back on the field, the football side and the legal side are still moving on very different timelines. [Read more 🡒]
Henry To'oTo'o Just Became More Important To Texans Than Ever
Henry To'oTo'o has quietly become one of the more important pieces on the Texans defense heading into 2026, thanks to the steady play he has given over the past two seasons and the way the linebacker room has thinned out around him. Houston has continued to add depth at the position this offseason, but the bigger picture is hard to miss: To'oTo'o is positioned for a much larger workload than he had when the roster was healthier.
He is also entering a contract year, which adds another layer to his season beyond the weekly demands of the defense. For a player ranked 17th in the Texans top-25 impact list, this feels like a pivotal stretch, one that could shape both Houstons middle of the defense and To'oTo'os standing with the organization well beyond this fall. [Read more 🡒]