Carnell Tate is already turning heads in Tennessee, and the early buzz around the rookie receiver keeps getting louder. Clips from Titans training camp have spread quickly online, and Tate has been flashing the kind of plays that get people talking fast: toe-taps, one-handed grabs, and enough polish to put him in the Offensive Rookie of The Year conversation before the season has even begun.
Pat McAfee added another jolt to the hype on yesterday’s segment of his show, and he didn’t hold back on the praise. After talking up Tate’s work in practice, McAfee said, "This Ohio State wide receiver factory they got cooking might have found the next Terry McLaurin here,"
He followed that up with another strong read on Tate’s ceiling: "Not as hyped as everybody else," McAfee went on, "but still unbelievable. That could be Carnell Tate's trajectory, quickly."
That comparison should land well with Titans fans. Tate and McLaurin share the same Ohio State background, and while Tate is described as a little lengthier, the broader point is the same: McLaurin has built the kind of career any team would love to uncover in a young receiver.
The Washington Commanders standout has been to the Pro Bowl twice, and he’s stacked up plenty of 1,000-yard seasons. From 2020-2024, McLaurin hit that mark five straight times. That’s the standard McAfee is pointing to, and it’s a high one.
For Tennessee, the appeal is obvious. A fourth overall pick brings pressure with it, and rookies are often asked to carry more than they should.
But Tate won’t be forced to do everything by himself. Brian Daboll’s offense appears set up to let him settle in while Cam Ward looks to Wan'Dale Robinson, Gunnar Helm, and others from under center.
The Buckeyes pipeline has been a reliable one, and Tate is the latest Ohio State receiver trying to turn that pedigree into NFL production. Right now, the signs in Tennessee are strong enough to make McAfee’s McLaurin comparison feel less like a throwaway line and more like an early warning.
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