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Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate during a November 16, 2024 game against Northwestern.
Since Mike Tomlin stepped down as head coach and Mike McCarthy was hired, what the future looks like for the Pittsburgh Steelers has become one of the more intriguing storylines in the NFL.
Tomlin leaves a historic franchise while carving out his own legacy. In 19 seasons, he never endured a losing year. Now McCarthy — coming off a year away from coaching after being fired by the Dallas Cowboys — hopes to keep that streak alive.
Where that begins is this offseason, as McCarthy and his new staff shape the roster in their vision. Securing Aaron Rodgers at quarterback is one piece of it, but what Pittsburgh does in free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft could define this era.
Of course, Rodgers’ return would influence both. And if he does come back, expect the Steelers to prioritize finding him a much-needed playmaker at wide receiver.
Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema believes they won’t just draft one — they’ll aggressively trade into the top 10 to do it.
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The Steelers’ long-standing issue is that consistent winning keeps them out of range for elite draft slots. In 2026, it’s the same story. Pittsburgh currently holds the No. 21 overall pick.
But Sikkema believes the Steelers should make a move with the Washington Commanders for the No. 7 pick to select Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate.
“I think if you’re Pittsburgh, what you’re doing here… To be honest with you, you’re moving up for Carnell Tate to be that wide receiver two for your offense,” Sikkema said.
He pointed to Pittsburgh’s 10 total draft picks as leverage, especially against a Commanders team that currently has just five selections and none in the second or fourth rounds.
“They’ve got ammo to move up,” Sikkema continued. “Especially to entice a team like Washington, we can give you a ton of picks. So what I’m looking at here for them… Let’s give them No. 21, let’s give them No. 53 in the second round. Let’s give them No. 99 — so they’ve still got those two third-round picks after all of this. And I think No. 135 gets the point value close. But you still have those third-round selections.”
In that proposed package, the Steelers would send their first- and second-round picks, one third-rounder and a fourth-round pick. In return, they’d land No. 7 overall — and still retain multiple picks inside the top 100.
It’s aggressive. It’s expensive. But it’s the type of move that signals urgency in the McCarthy era.
Would Carnell Tate Be Worth a Steelers Draft Gamble?
In most projections, Tate is a consensus top-10 talent — sometimes even higher. And when you look around the NFL at what former Ohio State wide receivers are doing, betting on a Buckeye pass-catcher hardly feels reckless.
Tate is coming off his most productive season, recording 875 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 17.2 yards per reception. For his career, he totaled 1,872 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 15.5 yards per catch.
Part of the reason his numbers don’t jump off the page even more is simple: he’s often played in the shadow of star teammates.
As a freshman, it was Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka. The past two seasons, it’s been Jeremiah Smith.
But the flashes have been there. The explosiveness has been there. The production — even without being the focal point — has been there.
If Pittsburgh is serious about surrounding Rodgers — or whoever is under center — with real firepower, a bold swing for Tate might not just be justified.
It might be necessary.
Shane Shoemaker Shane Shoemaker is a sports journalist covering college football and the NFL for Heavy.com. His work has also appeared in The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, USA TODAY, and ClutchPoints, along with high school sports coverage for the Marion Tribune. More about Shane Shoemaker
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