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Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate during a November 16, 2024 game against Northwestern.
The Washington Commanders have pieces in place with quarterback Jayden Daniels and wideout Terry McLaurin. However, an ESPN analyst believes they need another. Field Yates, in his latest mock draft, projected Washington would draft Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate with the 7th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft.
In the modern NFL, teams want to feature more than one wideout within the defense. As a result, the potential Tate selection could be considered more of a necessity than a luxury. Yates explains his reasoning.
“Tate had a fantastic 2025 season and is one of the most pro-ready prospects in the class. He’s a terrific route runner who makes difficult catches look routine with his awesome hands and body control. Tate averaged more than 17 yards per catch in 2025 and had at least one 40-plus-yard catch in six games.
In 39 games as a Buckeye, Tate caught 121 passes for 1872 yards and 14 touchdowns. For the entirety of his career in Columbus, Tate served as a complementary wideout. First, it was to Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, and later, Jeremiah Smith. Yet, that should not diminish his standing. In 2025, he averaged 17.2 yards per catch, demonstrating the ability to stretch defenses. Yet, not in the conventional ways.
Meaning, at six-foot-three, Tate uses an elongated stride to gain separation. Moreover, he profiles as an easy leaper who can elevate over defensive backs to make the contested catch. Tate may not win reps based on pure speed, but his route acumen allows for the big play. Furthermore, he brings an outstanding catch radius and hands to the table. In 2025, he did not drop a pass and tallied only five during his career at Ohio State.
GettyOhio State wideout Carnell Tate makes a catch against the University of Texas on August 30, 2025.
Tate’s Presence Opens Offense Up for Big Plays
Granted, Tate isn’t the traditional deep threat. He could post a very pedestrian time in the 40-yard dash. However, with decent football speed, he excels. Additionally, McLaurin could see a few safeties heading in his direction. Last season, the Commanders used Deebo Samuel, their second wideout, on passes either at or behind the line of scrimmage.
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Carnell Tate is next up from Ohio State
🌟 Zero drops in 2025
🌟 Converted 12/14 contested targets
🌟 High football IQ, ability to find soft spots in coverage and keep plays on schedule
A potential top 10 pick in April that could help to immediately…
— The Goal Line Grind (@theGLgrind) February 10, 2026
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Secondaries would press up, figuring that Samuel would need to break a handful of tackles just to get open downfield. Now, Daniels would have the option to target both sides of the field with regularity. McLaurin would still lead the team in targets, but they would come a little more easily than fighting through double coverage or bracketing.
Daniels will enjoy the body control on various routes. For example, he can make the back shoulder grab on either field, showing dexterity within the route. This could benefit the Commanders, as the attention in the red zone usually focuses on McLaurin. On top of that, flashes toughness in run blocking, using his frame to lock on and steer defensive backs away from the play.
GettyOhio State WR Carnell Tate scores against the University of Michigan on November 29, 2025.
Plus, the running game would be able to run in either direction without defensive backs lurking, waiting to drive downhill. New offensive coordinator David Blough wants to use Daniels under center more than his predecessor, Kliff Kingsbury. With the ability to jump under center, the Commanders will give the defense something to think about. Last season, they took 377 snaps under center as opposed to the 607 from the no-huddle shotgun.
Tate would give Washington another weapon on the outside. Will the Commanders choose to go with a rookie on the outside?
GettyOhio State wide receiver Carnell Tate catches a touchdown during the 2025 Big Ten Championship.
Terrance Biggs Terrance started at heavy.com in January 2026
He is a veteran sportswriter with 12 years of experience, covering NFL, College, and MLB. Terrance has held positions at Sports Illustrated and Pro Football Sports Network. A graduate of Fort Hays State University with a bachelor’s in Communication, he is also a voting member of the Football Writers Association of America, United States Basketball Writers Association and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. More about Terrance Biggs
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