Carnell Tate has a number in mind for where his career could go, and it belongs to Davante Adams.
The Tennessee Titans made the Ohio State product the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, handing quarterback Cam Ward a new top target for Brian Daboll’s offense. Tate is still getting his footing in his first NFL training camp, but when NFL Network’s Kurt Warner and Daniel Jeremiah asked him to name his pro comparison during a segment on Inside Training Camp Live, the 21-year-old didn’t hesitate.
“Probably say Tay Adams,” Tate said, according to the interview posted by Yahoo Sports. “He’s done it at the elite level. He’s one of the best. And he’s continuing to go out there and prove it.”
Tate went further, tying the comparison to something personal. Asked about the connection, he confirmed he wore No. 17 — Adams’ number — before switching to No. 14 with the Titans.
The Titans’ own account shared the clip on X, framing it as part of Tate’s ongoing camp media availability.
Tennessee Titans (@Titans) posted on X: “Carnell Tate on what he’s learned so far in the NFL #TitanUp: @nflnetwork Inside Training Camp Live”
Carnell Tate on what he's learned so far in the NFL #TitanUp
📺: @nflnetwork Inside Training Camp Live pic.twitter.com/lDFmmQg29c
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 7, 2026
It’s not the first time the Adams comparison has followed Tate. Draft analysts made the connection well before Tennessee ever called his name. The Ringer’s Todd McShay wrote in his pre-draft guide that Tate shares traits with Adams in size, route-running polish and smoothness of movement, according to AtoZ Sports’ rundown of the pre-draft comps.
Why the Adams Comparison Holds Up
Adams isn’t just a name Tate picked at random. Entering his 13th NFL season, the Los Angeles Rams receiver has caught 1,017 passes for 12,633 yards and 117 touchdowns across stops in Green Bay, Las Vegas, New York and now Los Angeles. He’s been selected to six Pro Bowls and earned First-Team All-Pro honors three times, in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
What separates Adams from most receivers his age is that he’s still producing. He led the NFL in receiving touchdowns with 14 during the 2025 season, a mark three better than any other player in the league, per the Rams’ official team site. That kind of sustained output at his stage of a career is exactly the trajectory a 21-year-old rookie would want to point to.
| Category | Davante Adams (Career) |
|---|---|
| Receptions | 1,017 |
| Receiving Yards | 12,633 |
| Touchdowns | 117 |
| Pro Bowls | 6 (2017–2022) |
| First-Team All-Pro | 3 (2020, 2021, 2022) |
Tate’s Early Camp Impression
The comparison lines up with what Tate has shown through the first stretch of Titans camp. He caught a practice-high three passes during a Wednesday session, including a red-zone touchdown from Ward that made the rounds on social media, according to a Yahoo Sports report citing Titans reporter Jim Wyatt. He added another catch the following day, even as the Titans’ defense won that particular practice.
Tennessee is banking on Tate to be more than a rotational piece. He’ll compete for reps alongside Wan’Dale Robinson, the team’s $70 million free-agent addition, and Calvin Ridley, who cleared 1,000 yards for the Titans in 2024. But multiple camp observers have already pointed to Tate as the receiver drawing the most trust from the coaching staff. One AtoZ Sports column tracking early stock-up, stock-down performers described Tate as “as advertised” through the first week of padded practices, noting the resemblance to Adams’ style of play specifically.
None of that comes with the pads fully tested yet. Titans cornerback Alontae Taylor has said he’s looking forward to getting physical with Tate in joint practices, according to AtoZ Sports, and how Tate handles press coverage from starting-caliber corners remains an open question the Titans will get real answers to as camp progresses.
What It Means for the Titans Offense
Tennessee’s passing game struggled to beat press coverage last season, and adding a receiver who can consistently separate at the catch point was a central piece of the plan behind selecting Tate at No. 4 overall. He finished his three seasons at Ohio State with 121 receptions for 1,872 yards and 14 touchdowns, production built in an offense that also featured other high-round NFL prospects at receiver.
If the early camp reports hold and Tate develops into the route-runner and hands-catcher scouts compared to Adams before the draft, the Titans will have found the kind of alpha target Ward has lacked. It’s one thing for a rookie to name a Hall of Fame-caliber player as his comp in August. It’s another to still be saying it in December. For now, Tate has the attention of his coaches, his quarterback and a national audience — and a number retired from his own jersey to remind him what he’s chasing.
