New Carnell Tate Concern Emerges Days Before 2026 NFL Draft

Former Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate has been universally viewed as the top receiver in this year’s draft class since last football season.

But he isn’t a perfect prospect. Nobody is.

The 2026 NFL Draft begins on Thursday, which means there’s still plenty of time for new intel to sprout and shift perceptions before the Las Vegas Raiders are officially on the clock at No. 1 overall.

ESPN’s fantasy football and draft analyst Field Yates appeared on “God Bless Football” on Tuesday and shared some of what he’s gathered about Tate.

“Throughout his college career, he was never really asked to be the No. 1 guy, or close to it,” Yates said. “Two years ago, there was both [now-Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver] Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith. This past year, there was Jeremiah Smith. Carnell Tate was never asked to be just the guy by himself.”

Yates continued, “Does that mean he’s incapable of doing it, or is it perhaps the circumstances? I think it’s largely the circumstances, but I think teams feel as though there is a ceiling on him compared to Jordyn Tyson.”

Yates added that there is more of “a sample size” of Tyson showing up and delivering as the go-to WR1 at Arizona State, and after Tyson held his private workout last week, teams feel “more comfortable with where Jordyn Tyson is at medically.”

The consensus top three receivers in this year’s draft class are Tate, Tyson, and USC’s Makai Lemon. Yates’ March mock draft projected Tate to come off the board at No. 6 overall to the Cleveland Browns, and Tyson to go to the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 9 overall.

Longtime draft expert Daniel Jeremiah ranked Tate as the sixth-best overall prospect in 2026.

Tate played all three of his collegiate seasons at Ohio State. Despite being behind Egbuka, who went 19th overall to Tampa Bay last year, and Smith, who is projected to be the top prospect next year, Tate was consistently productive.

In 2024, as the Buckeyes marched toward winning the national title, Tate caught 52 passes for 733 yards and four touchdowns at 14.1 yards per reception. In 2025, Tate improved across the board: 875 yards and nine touchdowns on 17.2 yards per catch across 51 catches in 11 games.

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This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 5:09 PM.