Browns draft: Carnell Tate could have sealed his fate with lack of testing

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate catches a ball during Pro Day for NFL scouts at the Woody Hayes Athletics Center on March 25, 2026. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

We are just a week and two days away from the start of the 2026 NFL draft, which means we are a week and two days away from guessing what is true, sorting through rumors, debating whether the Cleveland Browns should trade back, and finding out how the first round of the draft actually plays out. For now, we are stuck listening to many of those things, looking back at what recent history teaches us, and continuing to hear what might happen next with DE Myles Garrett.

In our gathering of Browns podcasters’ mock draft for the sixth overall pick, WR Carnell Tate was by far the most popular selection. For many fans, the best receiver in the class that happens to come from WRU, The Ohio State University, just checks so many boxes.

Most believe that Tate is a very good receiver, perhaps not at the level of the top players at the position in the NFL. Part of that comes from being paired with WR Jeremiah Smith at Ohio State, and part of that comes from his lack of testing predraft. According to Dane Brugler, author of “The Beast” NFL draft guide, Cleveland looked at the lack of testing that WR Tet McMillan had as one of the reasons they did not select him. Could that also seal Tate’s fate for the Browns?

Does testing matter? Yes and no. The film provides information that predraft testing either confirms or calls into question. With Tate, for example, does he have the foot quickness/change of direction to create separation against elite competition? Lining up against, often, second and third string corners on film (due to Smith’s presence) makes that tougher to evaluate, but a 3-cone or short shuttle time could help confirm that he indeed does have that ability.

Tate could also be impacted by the lack of success fellow Buckeye Marvin Harrison Jr. has had in the league after being dominant in college, but skipping all predraft testing. In two seasons, Harrison has 103 catches for 1,493 yards and 12 touchdowns after being selected fourth overall in the 2024 NFL draft.

Teams are often looking for as much information as possible to make big decisions in the NFL draft. As Brugler noted, McMillan’s lack of testing helped sway GM Andrew Berry toward DT Mason Graham. Could Tate be the next receiver passed over for the same reason?

At what level do you think teams should care about testing numbers predraft? Do you think Cleveland should have picked McMillan over Graham last year, despite no testing numbers?

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