Many NFL teams could use the skills of Ohio State wideout Carnell Tate. And Tate can see himself in many different situations. He freely mentioned the teams he met with at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis this week and speculated about seeing himself lining up and helping the offenses of the Saints, the Chiefs, the Commanders and the Giants.
"If you want a game changer," the precocious pass-catcher (he turned 21 last month) told reporters Friday, "you got one right here."
Tate also had some thoughts about teaming up on the Jets with fellow Ohio State first-round WR Garrett Wilson, who wrapped up his Buckeyes career two seasons before Tate started his three-season stay in 2023.
"It would be a great opportunity to play next to a former wide receiver at Ohio State," he said. "Me and G-5 have a good relationship. Whenever I need him, he said I could reach out to him.
"I feel like we could complement each other well. He can do all the short routes and the intermediate thing, he can make fantastic catches. And I can go stretch the field next to him."
Tate isn't a burner — his 40 time, which will be recorded at the Combine on Saturday, is projected by NFL Draft Buzz and Fansided to be from 4.48 to 4.52 seconds. But he knew, especially last season as an OSU junior, how to beat single coverage, get open and make the deep grab. His 6 touchdown catches of 30-plus yards led the nation, and his 12-game totals last season came in at 51 receptions for 875 yards, 17.5 yards/catch, and 9 TDs, all career highs.
"I think my game brings it all to the table," Tate said, in a brash but engaging manner, perhaps indicative of the sports-industry major and Academic All-America that he is. "I've got the contested catch, I've got the route-running. and I also bring in the run game — a lot of receivers don't do that. I'm able to impact the game with and without the ball in my hands."
The Jets, with more than a few needs, might be tempted to tab Tate for their WRs room along with Wilson, their 10th pick in 2022. But will they be in position to do that? No. 2 seems high for the 6-2, 190-pound Tate, and their 16th selection might be too low to create an offensive confluence of Columbus-ites that would also include QB Justin Fields, C Josh Myers and TE Jeremy Ruckert.
The Green & White could of course stay put at 16 and wait for the best available wideout in a deep receivers draft to come to them, perhaps Southern Cal's Makai Lemon, the Biletnikoff Award winner as college's top wideout. And they have the draft capital to move up in Round 1 if they choose.
But the Jets would then join a crowded field of competitors. Similar to the way Tate can see himself with different teams, draft watchers can see different teams matching up with Tate. Five football media outlets have Tate going to five different teams — fourth to Tennessee, fifth to the Giants (Daniel Jeremiah and CBS Sports), sixth to Cleveland (Mel Kiper), ninth to Kansas City and 12th to Dallas.
Whichever team officials send his name to the front table, they'll be adding the next top NFL game- and spotlight-ready wideout to the league's current list of great-hands Buckeyes, among them not only Wilson but Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the Seahawks' rookie sensation, Chris Olave of the Saints, the Commanders' Terry McLaurin, Emeka Egbuka of the Bucs, Marvin Harrison Jr. of the Cardinals, and the Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka.
Tate is on record saying he'd love to line up with anybody ad everybody in the NFL, but one particular market did pique his interest.
"Especially playing in New York, that big showcase," he said. "I'd love to go out there and play in New York."
Technically, Tate would be playing in Northern New Jersey, in the New York media market. And if he winds up with MetLife Stadium as his home office in the pros, it could be as a Giant. But it also just might be as a Jet.
