There's context, good and bad, behind Carnell Tate's ghostly preseason start

Carnell Tate, drafted fourth overall by the Tennessee Titans in April, has struggled to make an impact in the team's first two preseason games. Once a highly anticipated wide receiver prospect, Tate now finds himself as one of the lowest performers among modern NFL draft picks at that position, according to the team's analysis. Despite being a key target for quarterback Cam Ward during OTAs, minicamp, and the initial weeks of training camp, Tate failed to impress in the preseason opener against the 49ers and was held without a catch in three series of the Titans' preseason opener.

The team's coach, Robert Saleh, believes Tate is more resilient than the preseason games suggest, stating that he is doing a good job in the day-to-day process. However, the Titans' offensive coordinator, Brian Daboll, has not been providing the team with any passing opportunities, which may be contributing to Tate's lack of production.

Additionally, the Seattle defense's penchant for forcing throws underneath the sticks limits Tate's ability to make bigger plays downfield. When compared to the last 10 receivers drafted in the top 10 before Tate, including Chase, London, and McMillan, it appears that Tate's performance in his first two preseason games is not an outlier in the context of his draft class.