Carnell Tate Declares for 2026 NFL Draft, Where Does Ohio State WR Rank on Big Board?

Arguably the top wide receiver prospect for the 2026 NFL draft is taking his talents to the next level.

Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate declared for the draft on Tuesday:

Tate checked in as the No. 8 overall player and top-ranked wide receiver on the latest big board from B/R's NFL Scouting Department.

The big board also listed Tate as the "most pro-ready" wide receiver, and he figures to be the next in a long line of wide receivers to come out of Ohio State and reach the NFL.

While Tate was overshadowed at times by Jeremiah Smith this past season, so was Emeka Egbuka during the 2024 campaign. And Egbuka went on to be a first-round draft pick and challenge for Offensive Rookie of the Year with 938 receiving yards and six touchdowns in his first NFL season.

It would be anything but a surprise if Tate followed in his footsteps.

Ohio State Wins

00:33

"Tate's height and wingspan offer a quarterback-friendly target," B/R's Damian Parson wrote in a scouting report. "He extends the catch point away from his frame and plucks the ball from the air. Tate is a bouncy athlete who can climb the ladder over defenders at the catch point. He has soft, reliable hands and excellent ball tracking skills."

Parson also highlighted Tate's route-running ability and perimeter blocking while pointing to "a more fluid Michael Thomas" as a pro comparison.

All Thomas did during his NFL career was make three straight Pro Bowls from 2017 to 2019 and take home the 2019 Offensive Player of the Year while leading the league in catches (149) and receiving yards (1,725), so that name should turn heads for NFL teams looking for an impact playmaker.

While Tate figures to be a first-round pick and could hear his name called in the top 10 on draft day, there are far more questions about what the typically dominant Ohio State wide receiver room will look like next season.

Wide receivers coach Brian Hartline left to become the head coach at South Florida, Tate is now in the draft, and Quincy Porter, Bryson Rodgers, Mylan Graham and Damarion Witten all entered the transfer portal.

The Buckeyes will likely need to turn to the transfer portal to add some supporting pieces for Smith, which could be a pathway to the NFL given the recent production of Egbuka and Tate.