Feb. 14, 2026, 5:30 a.m. ET

Fans of the Washington Commanders have already had plenty of time to think about the 2026 NFL Draft, considering the team failed to make the postseason this year.

After going 5-12, there are plenty of obvious needs on this roster. Luckily, the Commanders own the No. 7 pick in the first round of the 2026 draft, and this class is considered to be deep with talent in several spots. Most mock drafts have had the team selecting a defender, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to add a playmaker for Jayden Daniels as well.

Rob Rang of Fox Sports recently published an updated mock that has the Commanders going the latter route. In Rang’s mock, the Commanders select Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate. Regarding that potential pick, Rang offered the following analysis:

No one needs to remind Washington head coach Dan Quinn about the importance of protecting quarterback Jayden Daniels, and the best way of doing that with this pick might be to bolster a receiving corps that, frankly, didn’t live up to expectations. Big and smooth, Tate would add a dynamic downfield presence to add some vitality to a group of pass-catchers overly reliant on 30-year-old Terry McLaurin as Deebo Samuel and Zach Ertz head to free agency.  

As Rang pointed out, the Commanders need to get more out of their receivers in 2026. Deebo Samuel, Noah Brown, Treylon Burks, and Chris Moore are all headed for free agency, and tight end Zach Ertz is coming off a serious injury.

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Terry McLaurin is still a capable weapon, but the team desperately needs a young target with upside like Tate. In 2025, Tate played in 11 games for the Buckeyes and caught 51 passes for 875 yards and nine touchdowns. It was the second consecutive season of 50+ catches and 700+ yards for the talented receiver.

Tate is big enough to make contested catches on the boundary but is also quick enough to get open over the middle of the field. Adding Tate would take pressure off the aging McLaurin and give Daniels another reliable target.

In Rang’s mock, Tate is the first receiver off the board. Makai Lemon, KC Concepcion, and Jordyn Tyson are other receivers who could be the first off the board. Of course, the Commanders could also decide to go defense first and address the receiver room later on.