It’s no secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers will try to upgrade their offense this offseason, and one key goal is to find a better No. 2 option. D.K. Metcalf disappointed in his first season with the Steelers, but there was also no one to take any of the pressure or attention off of him.
The good news for the Steelers is that the 2026 NFL Draft is loaded with wide receiver talent, including multiple options in Round 1. And arguably the best receiver in the class is Carnell Tate from Ohio State. But just how good a prospect is he compared to other former Buckeyes? And how would he fit with Pittsburgh? Let’s dive into his scouting report going into the 2026 Draft:
Ohio State WR Carnell Tate 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Height: 6021
Weight: 195 pounds
Expected 40 Yard Dash Time: 4.47-4.51
Recruiting: 5-star recruit, No. 22 player nationally. No. 3 ranked wide receiver
College Production: 39 career games, 121 receptions for 1,872 yards and 14 touchdowns. Averaged 17.2 yards per reception during 2025 season (51 receptions).
Positives:
- Prototype size and length for No. 1 receiver. And knows how to utilize that size against smaller defenders.
- Explodes off the line of scrimmage with very little wasted movement.
- Strong hands at the catch point. Doesn’t drop passes (Zero drops in 2025 via Pro Football Focus).
- Has improved each season in college. Best football might still be ahead of him.
- Massive catch radius and has no problem snagging the ball out of the air and above his head.
- Willing blocker in the run game. Uses sizes and length to overwhelm smaller corners on the outside.
- Might be the best contested catch receiver in the entire draft.
- Very polished route runner coming out of college.
Carnell Tate is an easy watch as he does all of the little things well as a receiver. He’s not the fastest receiver, but he doesn’t waste any steps and knows how to run nearly every route. He makes the most out of every target, and his ability to win in contested situations means that he’s always open.
Negatives:
- Not overly dynamic after the catch. Averaged just 4.5 yards after the catch/reception during the 2025 season.
- Just an average overall athlete. Speed is fine (4.48), but he isn’t going to routinely run past defensive backs.
- Mostly used as an outside receiver at Ohio State. Might not be the best fit in the slot for certain teams.
- Benefited from playing opposite Jeremiah Smith and saw the lesser cornerbacks from opponents in most matchups.
Teams that value elite athletes and players who can make big plays after the catch might not love Tate (think San Francisco 49ers). He doesn’t make many defenders miss after the catch, and that could limit the type of targets he gets in the NFL.
He creates separation with his route running, but the overall athleticism is just middling for a No. 1 pick. He’s going to be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL, but some teams might not view him that way, as he is more of an outside receiver than someone who moves all around the formation.
Carnell Tate NFL Player Comparison: Texans WR Nico Collins
It’s hard to find a perfect comparison for Tate because there are very few receivers of his size who run routes as precisely as he does. DeVonta Smith was a similar prospect coming out of college because of his length and reliability, but Tate is 25 pounds heavier and at least 2 inches taller.
Nico Collins makes the most sense, but that is the current version of Collins with the Texans. Collins is a big, physical receiver with more than enough speed to challenge defensive backs vertically. Collins is heavier than Tate, but both can be utilized all over the field and fit the prototype of a No. 1 receiver in the right offense.
Carnell Tate Fit With Pittsburgh Steelers:
It’s hard to know exactly what the Steelers want at receiver as they don’t currently have a head coach, but Tate embodies everything that the franchise has wanted historically. He’s as reliable as it gets and has the size to withstand AFC North football. And with his ability to block and win in contested areas, he would fit nearly any offense.
D.K. Metcalf and Carnell Tate together would give Pittsburgh two big outside receivers who can make plays down the field, and their skillsets complement each other with Tate’s route running and Metcalf’s athleticism.
Carnell Tate NFL Draft Grade: Top-15 Selection
The only big knock on Tate is that he doesn’t have elite production, but that’s understandable considering he’s shared the field with Jeremiah Smith over the last two seasons. And not to mention, Emeka Egbuka played with these two in 2024, and he’s the school’s all-time leading receiver.
Tate might not be a special athlete (like Malik Nabers or Travis Hunter), but he’s got everything else you would want from a No. 1 receiver prospect. And with his route-running prowess and strong hands, he’s one of the easiest prospects in this class to rank. Expect him to go very early in the 2026 NFL Draft.