Carnell Tate 2026 NFL mock draft: latest prediction for Ohio State Wide Receiver

TL;DR

Carnell Tate, the Ohio State Wide Receiver, is projected to be selected 8th overall by the New Orleans Saints in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.

Key points

Carnell Tate is a Wide Receiver from Ohio State
He is projected to be drafted 8th overall
The New Orleans Saints are expected to select him
The 2026 NFL Draft is approaching

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Carnell Tate

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.

Carnell Tate 2026 NFL Draft prediction: Pick No. 8 overall, New Orleans Saints

Nate Davis' Fit Analysis:

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.

Ayrton Ostly's Big Board Rank: No. 11

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.

See the full big board here

Campus Intel:

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