The Ohio State University may want to change its name to “The Wide Receiver University” at this point.

It’s a school that has been no stranger to producing some of the NFL’s best receivers, particularly in recent seasons. The star-studded list continues to grow each year, with names like Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Marvin Harrison Jr., Terry McLaurin, Emeka Egbuka and Jaxon Smith-Njigba all representing the Buckeyes in the league.

Advertisement

Jeremiah Smith will have to wait another year before taking his talents to the NFL, but that isn’t the case for Carnell Tate.

The standout receiver is somewhat of a forgotten man behind Smith, but Tate projects as one of the top players available in the 2026 NFL Draft and, arguably, the best receiver in the class. Whether that remains the case after the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine is up for debate. Tate made headlines for only posting an official 40-yard dash time of 4.53, though some have pointed out that they clocked him faster than that.

Regardless, Tate is no stranger to playing above the rim, known for his signature contested catches. More importantly, teams will love the idea that he is a vacuum. He wasn’t credited with a single drop after receiving 66 targets in 2025, totaling 51 catches for 875 yards and nine touchdowns.

Advertisement

Following the NFL combine, here’s a look at where Tate is currently projected in NFL mock drafts, along with some of the best fits.

1 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl

1. New York Jets – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

1 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl

1. New York Jets – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

2 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl

2. New York Jets – Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State

3 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl

3. Arizona Cardinals – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (Fla.)

4 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl

4. Tennessee Titans – Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)

5 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl

5. New York Giants – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

6 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl

6. Cleveland Browns – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

7 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

7. Washington Commanders – David Bailey, DE/OLB, Texas Tech

8 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

8. New Orleans Saints – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

9 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

9. Kansas City Chiefs – Makai Lemon, WR, USC

10 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

10. Cincinnati Bengals – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

11 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

11. Miami Dolphins – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

12 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

12. Dallas Cowboys – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

13 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection going into the scouting combine

13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

14 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl

14. Baltimore Ravens – Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

15 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

16 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

17 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

17. Detroit Lions – Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn

18 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl

18. Minnesota Vikings – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

19 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl

19. Carolina Panthers – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

20 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl

20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers) – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

21 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

21. Pittsburgh Steelers – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

22 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl

22. Los Angeles Chargers – Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

23 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

23. Philadelphia Eagles – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

24 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

25 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

25. Chicago Bears – T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson

26 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

26. Buffalo Bills – Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami (Fla.)

27 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

27. San Francisco 49ers – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

28 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl

28. Houston Texans – Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech

29 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl

29. Los Angeles Rams – Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama

30 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection going into the scouting combine

30. Denver Broncos – CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

31 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection going into the scouting combine

31. New England Patriots – Cashius Howell, OLB, Texas A&M

32 / 32

NFL mock draft: First-round projection going into the scouting combine

32. Seattle Seahawks – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

Carnell Tate NFL mock draft

Tate checks in as the 11th-best player and second-best receiver on USA TODAY Sports’ Ayrton Ostly’s big board. Here’s where the receiver has been projected in recent mock drafts:

Carnell Tate best fitsTennessee Titans

Many on the face of the earth, and possibly Mars, are projecting the Titans to take a pass-rusher with the fourth overall pick in the draft. While it makes sense given the team’s decision to hire the defensive-minded Robert Saleh, let’s not forget what really matters for the Titans – Cam Ward.

Advertisement

It was the thing that doomed Saleh’s tenure in New York and will be his undoing in Tennessee as well if Ward fails. The Titans need to bolster their receiver group this offseason and Tate is the type of quarterback-friendly receiver that would do wonders for the young signal caller.

The trade for Jermaine Johnson may also alleviate the Titans’ need for another rusher off the edge, but don’t count it out, considering Saleh’s long-standing desire for the front to generate pressure. If not edge, then Tate could be the play.

New York Giants

The Giants are also trying to build around their young quarterback, Jaxson Dart. Sensing a theme? Tate has proven to be the type of receiver that doesn’t have to be the star in an offense, evidenced by the loaded pass-catcher groups he played with at Ohio State.

Advertisement

That bodes well for someone who would then line up in an offense that also has Malik Nabers. If this were the landing spot for Tate, it would set the Giants up well for the future. Dart, Nabers and Tate would all enter Week 1 at age-23 or younger, giving Big Blue a trio that could be together for years to come.

New Orleans Saints

Similar to the Giants, the Saints also already have a star receiver to feature on offense. Olave is only 25 and will be 26 by Week 1, but he had a career year playing with Tyler Shough. The depth chart is thin behind Olave though, especially after they dealt Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks ahead of the trade deadline.

Advertisement

That opens the door for a new WR2 to emerge in New Orleans as the Saints work their way back to being competitive again.

Cleveland Browns

Columbus to Cleveland? It could be a quick trip in-state to northeast Ohio for Tate, which would certainly save on moving expenses. The Browns have a new, offensive-minded head coach in Todd Monken, who will want to bring some more talent to that side of the ball. Defense hasn’t been the issue for Cleveland, meaning they can easily spend draft picks to fit Monken’s vision for the offense.

Advertisement

Quarterback questions remain top of mind for everyone around the organization, but this isn’t a draft that will give them a chance to invest an early pick. Instead, they can select Tate with the idea that he fills a key role for whoever lines up under center.

Kansas City Chiefs

Believe it or not, it wasn’t that long ago that the Chiefs’ offense instilled fear into the opposition. Teams had to not only account for speed, but smart route running and then wizardry from Patrick Mahomes. That hasn’t been the case for the Chiefs in recent history, who are trying to make the same meal with different ingredients. The Chiefs have to realize that everyone prioritizes speed in the modern NFL and you aren’t just going to run up the score by, well, running right past defenders.

Advertisement

Andy Reid’s group barely looked like a playoff team with Mahomes in 2025 and then officially found themselves eliminated without him. While the star quarterback was sidelined with a torn ACL, the lesson should’ve been simple – Mahomes can’t do it alone. They need a running game. They need receivers. Drafting Tate at least helps solve one of those problems.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Carnell Tate best fits, NFL mock draft projection after NFL combine