Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate is a man in demand. The Washington Commanders need another dynamic pass-catcher to put alongside Terry McLaurin, and it's not hard to connect the dots.
Tate is the consensus best receiver in this class. Arguments can be made for Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon, but both have concerns. The Buckeyes' wideout looks well-rounded and ready to take the NFL by storm, so teams in the top 10 are taking a keen interest.
The Commanders had a strong contingent at Ohio State's pro day. General manager Adam Peters, head coach Dan Quinn, offensive coordinator David Blough, and defensive coordinator Daronte Jones were in attendance, with a plethora of prospects potentially on the shortlist at various stages of the selection event.
Commanders face stern competition for Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate
After showcasing his route-running and ball skills during individual drills in Columbus, Tate revealed that several teams have scheduled individual visits with him. The Commanders are unsurprisingly one, but they are not alone.
Ohio State WR Carnell Tate didn’t do any additional athletic testing at Pro Day, but he’s running routes and catching passes from Julian Sayin in individual drills pic.twitter.com/z5Ma2ak82g
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) March 25, 2026
The Cleveland Browns have already brought Tate in for a meeting, who are picking one spot ahead of the Commanders at No. 6. The Tennessee Titans (No. 4), New York Giants (No. 5), New Orleans Saints (No. 8), and Kansas City Chiefs (No. 9) are the other interested parties, which all but confirms what analysts believed.
Tate is going to be a top 10 pick. He could even be taken in the top five, depending on how things shake out. The Commanders will wait patiently before going on the clock. If the pass-catcher is still available, it will likely provoke a heated debate among those in power.
The Commanders aren't in a position to be trading up for anybody. Peters has some extra flexibility after his bold free agency moves, but he doesn't have the disposable capital to move up. Given how strong the 2027 draft class could be, giving up future assets is not an option.
There is a lot to like about Tate. He's a slick route runner with outstanding ball tracking skills. He needs to improve his ability to get off press-man coverage, and there is also a question about how much of his production was down to playing opposite Jeremiah Smith. That's down to Quinn, Peters, and Blough to decide, but fans will trust their judgment.
Washington's decision-makers want to find out more about Tate. He's not lacking in confidence, which is the sort of attitude the Commanders need around quarterback Jayden Daniels. But even if they are suitably impressed, it'll be a nerve-wracking wait.
And there is just no telling how things will play out right now.