Titans Secure Future with Tate and Faulk in First-Round Blitz

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The Tennessee Titans walked away from Day 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh having checked two massive boxes. After standing pat at No. 4 to land a blue-chip offensive weapon, General Manager Mike Borgonzi orchestrated a late-night trade with the Buffalo Bills to jump back into the first round at No. 31 and secure a defensive anchor.

Here is the breakdown of the Titans’ new first-round duo: Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk.

Pick No. 4: Carnell Tate (WR, Ohio State)

In a draft rich with offensive talent, the Titans made Carnell Tate the first wide receiver off the board. Standing 6’2″ and weighing 192 pounds, Tate is the latest product of the “Wide Receiver U” pipeline in Columbus.

The Profile: Tate is widely regarded as the most reliable pass-catcher in the class. He made headlines for his zero-drop season in 2025 and an elite contested-catch rate of 85.7%, which led the nation.

The Strategic Fit: With new head coach Robert Saleh looking to build a balanced attack around young quarterback Cam Ward, Tate provides a “quarterback’s best friend.” While he may lack world-class burner speed (clocking a 4.53 in the 40-yard dash), his route running and vise-grip hands make him an immediate WR1 candidate alongside Calvin Ridley.

The History: This marks the highest the Titans franchise has ever drafted a wide receiver. Borgonzi and Saleh are betting that Tate can break the “first-round curse” that has plagued Tennessee receivers since the team moved to Nashville.

Pick No. 31: Keldric Faulk (EDGE, Auburn)

Not content with just one first-rounder, the Titans traded their second-round pick (No. 35) and a package of mid-rounders to Buffalo to snag Faulk at the end of the night.

The Profile: Faulk is a physical specimen at 6’6″ and 276 pounds. Though his sack numbers at Auburn (10 career sacks) didn’t always jump off the page, his underlying metrics as a run-stopper and edge-setter were among the best in the SEC.

The “Saleh” Connection: Borgonzi noted that Faulk’s frame and versatility reminded the staff of Arik Armstead, whom Saleh coached to great success in San Francisco. Faulk has the size to slide inside on passing downs and the length (34 3/8″ arms) to swallow up ball carriers on the perimeter.

The Landing Spot: Faulk enters a dream scenario on the defensive line, where he will play alongside All-Pro Jeffery Simmons. With Simmons drawing double-teams in the interior, Faulk should see plenty of one-on-one opportunities to develop his pass-rush repertoire early in his career.

Day 1 Analysis: The Titans’ Haul

Player	Position	School	Notable Stat
Carnell Tate	WR	Ohio State	0 drops on 66 targets (2025)
Keldric Faulk	EDGE	Auburn	19.5 TFLs in 32 starts

In the End: The Titans used the first night of the draft to infuse the roster with high-character “culture” players. By pairing a master of the contested catch with a versatile, high-motored defensive end, Tennessee has laid a strong foundation for the Robert Saleh era.

With the trade back into the first round, the Titans have surrendered some Day 2 capital, but they leave Day 1 with two players they believe were the “best fits” for their respective schemes.