CarnellTate

Tate is a wily route technician with excellent length and body control and damn near automatic hands that he uses to dominate at the catch point. A former five-star recruit and two-year starter for the Buckeyes, he is a tall, deft athlete with a sinewy frame and long arms. He shows good burst off the line to create early separation, quickly eating up a corner’s cushion to threaten over the top. He is a technician as a route runner, sets up and sells double moves expertly, and shows the ability to drop his hips to cut on a dime on in-breakers or out routes. He tracks the ball well down the field and gives himself a great chance to reel in tightly contested passes by showing his hands as late as possible. He brings the gazelle-like speed to beat defenders over the top and was a big-play threat for Ohio State, averaging 17.5 yards per reception last year. He brings Stickum-equipped hands and notched zero drops on 58 targets in 2025. More than that, he has an uncommon catching ability: With canny, unflappable concentration and excellent body control, he regularly goes up high to snag passes in traffic, showing Tee Higgins–type ball skills. He reeled in 12 of 14 contested catches last season and went 22-of-32 in his college career, per PFF. He can line up all across the formation. 

Tate has a wiry build and lacks top-tier strength as a route runner; he could struggle to fight off tough press coverage against bigger, stronger corners at the next level. He could stand to add some bulk to deal with the physicality in the NFL. He brings solid speed but lacks true explosive traits; he may be viewed as a no. 2 receiver rather than a prototypical no. 1.