Who has two thumbs, convinced his new organization to overspend on a 5-foot-8 slot receiver, and then overcompensated for overspending by reaching on a receiver with the fourth pick of the 2026 NFL Draft? Brian Daboll...
probably.
The former head coach of the New York Giants is now the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans, and while no one really knows how involved he is in decision-making, the moves they’ve made this offseason suggest he’s got some serious pull. That’s what happens when you bring in the quarterback whisperer who helped clean up Josh Allen’s game in Buffalo and is now looking to do the same for Cam Ward in Nashville.
It started in free agency, when Daboll seemingly signed every former Giant on the market. He took Cor'Dale Flott, Daniel Bellinger, Aaron Stinnie, and Wan'Dale Robinson with him, with Robinson coming at a price -- $70 million. It was a lot of money for a slot receiver coming off a career year, thanks to Malik Nabers missing the season with a torn ACL.
His contract has made some unsavory lists, and it seems even Dabs is realizing it might’ve been a mistake giving him that much money. With the fourth pick of the 2026 Draft, Tennessee took Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate, who feels like a slight reach and a bit of overcompensation for a team looking to do right by its quarterback.
Titans reach on Carnell Tate after Wan’Dale Robinson overpay
Tate is a very good wide receiver. He’s a buttery-smooth route runner, and his 6-foot-2, 192-pound frame fits nicely on a Titans team devoid of weapons.
Which is kind of the point. Tell me you regret backing up the Brinks truck without telling me.
Overpaying for Robinson showed how desperate they were to get Ward help. Reaching on Tate confirmed it, and it says everything about how little confidence they have in Robinson carrying the load as WR1, because he can’t. And it’s nothing personal, it’s just the reality of being a glorified gadget slot guy best served as a WR3.
Perhaps, subconsciously, Daboll thought the Giants would target Tate when they were on the clock at five. But as soon as Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese fell to them, overthinking the pick became all but impossible.
Either way, it's a bad look for the Titans. They didn't even take the best receiver of the class. That title belongs to Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson. Injury concerns likely played a role in their passing on him, but still, with more glaring needs like adding a stud pass-rusher, passing on Reese to select Tate feels like a slight reach, especially with the depth of the wideout class this year.
Not my problem. With Reese and Francis Mauigoa in tow, the no-nonsense John Harbaugh era is officially underway in New York. You'd hate to be the team to overthink the offseason and set the franchise back because of it -- cough, the Titans.