The 2026 NFL Draft is approaching fast and league scouts are solidifying their big boards. Wide Receiver Carnell Tate could be among the players who hear their name called early in Pittsburgh this week when the NFL welcomes its newest class of rookies.
USA TODAY Sports has all the latest on where the prospect out of Ohio State may land.
Here's how USA TODAY's latest mock draft currently projects draft day will play out for the former college star.
What a win it would be for them to get the pick of the wideout litter in a bid to support second-year QB Tyler Shough. A fellow Ohio Stater like the Saints' Chris Olave, Tate is the latest ready-made wideout product emerging from the Buckeyes' pipeline. His 51 catches in 2025 averaged 17.2 yards, nearly three more than former teammate Jeremiah Smith. And while Tate might have been Robin to Smith's Batman, he and Olave could complement one another nicely as WR1 and WR1A. Tate's better suited to work on the boundary, while Olave can do a lot of damage from the slot.
Tate looks poised to be the next first-round receiver out of Columbus. He boasts impressive size and route running at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds. While he's not a burner, he dominates on vertical routes thanks to his elite contested catch ability (85.7% contested catch rate in 2025). He's one of the most sure-handed players in the class; he didn't drop any of his 66 targets in 2025.
Tate makes challenging catches look easy, especially on sideline throws. His size (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) and speed (4.53 in the 40) are good enough, but it is his smooth route-running, strong hands and ability to adjust his body to any throw that set him apart. The latest in a long line of excellent NFL receivers out of Ohio State, Tate stacks up with the best of them, but probably most comparable to Garrett Wilson. -- Rob Oller, The Columbus Dispatch
The 2026 NFL Draft will take place between April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
Time: 8 p.m. ET (Round 1); 7 p.m. ET (Rounds 2-3); Noon ET (Rounds 4-7)
Streaming: NFL+; ESPN Unlimited & Select; Fubo
Fans have several options to choose from to watch the 2026 NFL Draft. NFL Network and ESPN will have separate broadcasts, each providing a different analysis of each pick as it happens on draft night.
Cord-cutters can stream the different broadcasts on NFL+, the NFL's proprietary streaming service; ESPN Select or ESPN Unlimited, ESPN's streaming services; or cable alternative Fubo , which offers a free trial.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Carnell Tate 2026 NFL mock draft: latest prediction for Ohio State Wide Receiver