Ohio State junior wide receiver Carnell Tate announced Tuesday night that he will enter the 2026 NFL Draft. On Wednesday morning, his Buckeyes teammate, All-American junior safety Caleb Downs, joined him in forgoing his remaining college eligibility.
“After a lot of prayer and reflection, I have decided to declare for the NFL Draft,” Downs wrote in a statement released via social media. “I’m grateful for this chapter and proud to forever be a Buckeye.”
Both players could be top-10 — potentially, even top-five — picks come Round 1 on April 23. Tate (6 feet 3, 190 pounds) ranked No. 10 on Dane Brugler’s midseason draft board, and he was the No. 5 pick (New York Giants) in Nick Baumgardner’s post-NFL regular season mock draft. Combined over the past two seasons, Tate posted 103 receptions for 1,608 yards and 13 touchdowns, all while playing alongside WR Jeremiah Smith, who likely will open the 2027 draft cycle as the top prospect in that class.
— Carnell Tate (@carnelltate_) January 7, 2026
Ohio State has produced at least one first-round receiver in each of the past four drafts, and it had two first-rounders selected at the position in 2022 (Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave).
Downs (6-0, 205) ranked No. 3 on Brugler’s board, and he was the No. 8 pick (New Orleans Saints) in that recent mock. The ninth-place finisher in this year’s Heisman Trophy voting, Downs had 150 tackles, four interceptions and eight passes defended in two years with the Buckeyes after a 107-tackle season as a freshman at Alabama in 2023.
Ohio State edge Arvell Reese, who could be in contention to be the top pick in this year’s draft, has yet to announce his plans. It is widely believed, however, that he will join Downs and Tate in heading to the NFL.
Downs’ NFL Draft outlook
Arguably the best pound-for-pound football player in the 2026 NFL Draft class, Downs has been an on-field dynamo since starting as a true freshman at Alabama for Nick Saban. His presence as a literal do-everything defensive back changed Ohio State’s defense and was a critical factor in the Buckeyes’ national title run last season.
An outstanding tackler, Downs attacks downhill in the run game like a linebacker, and does so from basically anywhere on the field. Though he’s a terrific all-around athlete, Downs’ biggest asset might be his football IQ — he’s shown an ability to impact the game from various alignments, regardless of the opponent, throughout his brilliant three-year college career.
He’s a top-three prospect in this class on talent alone, but, as always with players at his position, his ultimate draft range is uncertain. — Nick Baumgardner
Tate’s NFL Draft outlook
Nobody is better than Ohio State at finding big receivers who run like small receivers. Smith is the Buckeyes’ current powerhouse prospect, but Tate was a bit of a revelation opposite him.
A big player with strong, fast hands, Tate can bend and sink into breaks with a smoothness not often seen in players his size. He is very explosive, a sharp cutter in space and elite in the air. Tate had 14 contested-catch opportunities this past season and came down with a reception on 12 of them.
Tate firmly belong in the discussion for WR1, along with Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson and USC’s Makai Lemon, both of whom declared for the draft last month. — Baumgardner