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

In Columbus, and for the Ohio State Buckeyes football program, wide receiver excellence is not an exception. It is the expectation.

From Garrett Wilson to Chris Olave to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the program has become a pipeline for polished, NFL-ready talent. Now, the next name in that lineage is Carnell Tate. And what separates Tate is not just production.

It is how he produced, steadily, efficiently, and in ways that translate directly to NFL Sundays.

A three-year climb from depth piece to featured weapon

Tate’s Ohio State career followed the exact arc NFL teams want to see.

As a freshman in 2023, he entered one of the deepest receiver rooms in college football and still carved out a role, finishing with 18 receptions for 264 yards and a touchdown while appearing in every game. That early contribution mattered, not because of volume, but because it showed he could earn trust in a crowded, elite room.

By 2024, his role expanded significantly. Tate became a consistent part of the offense, posting 52 catches for 733 yards and four touchdowns, while contributing to a national championship run. He was no longer a rotational player. He was a reliable option in high-leverage moments, including the postseason.

Then came the breakout. In 2025, Tate elevated into one of the most productive receivers in the country, recording 51 receptions for 875 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging over 17 yards per catch. Despite missing time with injury, he still produced multiple 100-yard games and became one of the offense’s most explosive threats.

Across three seasons, the resume is clear, 121 receptions, 1,872 yards, 14 touchdowns in 39 games. That kind of steady progression is not accidental. It is development.

The production profile: Elite ball skills, zero drops, and winning through contact

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.