From Columbus to Sundays: Why Carnell Tate has WR1 upside in the NFL

What makes Tate’s production truly compelling is not just the volume. It is how clean and translatable it is.

Let’s start with the efficiency. Tate averaging over 17 yards per catch in 2025 is a reflection of explosive downfield playmaking. He consistently won on vertical routes and intermediate concepts, turning opportunities into chunk gains rather than simply moving the chains.

But the most important part of Tate’s profile shows up in two areas NFL teams value heavily, contested catches and reliability.

Tate has developed into one of the best contested-catch receivers in the country. According to PFF, Tate had a 85.7% contested catch rate in 2025, consistently converting throws in tight coverage and winning at the catch point. His combination of size, timing, and body control allow him to play through defenders and finish plays that many receivers simply cannot.

That trait translates immediately to the NFL. When separation shrinks on Sundays, receivers who can win in traffic become invaluable. Tate already operates comfortably in that environment.

Then there is his hands. In 2025, Tate recorded zero drops, a statistic that reinforces what shows up on film. He is a natural hands catcher who consistently plucks the ball away from his body, maintains focus through contact, and finishes plays in critical moments.

That level of reliability is rare. Many receivers offer explosiveness. Others offer consistency. Tate offers both, and that combination is what elevates his projection. He is not streaky, he is stable.

More than a WR2: Why history says Tate can be a true NFL WR1

One of the laziest ways to evaluate receivers coming out of Ohio State is by labeling them based on their role. Tate was often viewed as a “WR2” within the Buckeyes’ offense. But at Ohio State, that label means something very different than it does elsewhere.

Being a secondary option in that system does not limit NFL projection. It often enhances it. Just look at Terry McLaurin, who was never a featured WR1 in college but became one of the most consistent and productive receivers in the NFL. Or Chris Olave, who shared targets in a loaded room and still translated into a high-level NFL playmaker.

Ohio State’s receiver room is built on distribution, not force-feeding. Tate’s production came within that structure. He was not schemed touches, he earned them. And when opportunities came, he maximized them.

That is exactly what NFL teams want to see. Because the transition to the league is not about being the only option. It is about being able to operate within a system, earn trust, and expand your role over time.

Tate has already done that. And that is why the ceiling is higher than many realize. He is not just a complementary receiver at the next level. He has the tools to become a true WR1, and the type of player who can lead a passing game, win against top corners, and produce consistently against elite competition.

What Carnell Tate brings to the NFL

Tate enters the NFL as one of the most polished and complete receivers in his class. At 6′ 2 1/4″ and 192 pounds, he brings ideal size and catch radius, allowing him to win both in space and in contested situations. His route running is advanced, built on timing, leverage, and an understanding of how to manipulate defenders.

He can line up outside, beat press coverage, operate in the intermediate game, and threaten vertically. That versatility makes him scheme-flexible, capable of fitting into multiple offensive systems.

But the most important trait he brings is trust. Quarterbacks trust receivers who are where they are supposed to be, who catch the ball when it is thrown to them, and who make plays when things break down. Tate has built his entire game around those principles. And that is why his transition projects so cleanly.

The bottom line

Carnell Tate is not built on hype, he is built on traits that translate. Consistency, ball skills, reliability, and physicality at the catch point.

At Ohio State, he proved he could develop, adapt, and produce within one of the most demanding environments in college football. He showed he could win without being the focal point, and still deliver when called upon.

In the NFL, that profile tends to scale. That is why Tate is not just a safe projection, he is a high-ceiling one. And if his development continues on its current trajectory, he will not just follow the path of past Ohio State receivers.

He will join them, not as a role player, but as a true No. 1 option at the next level.