New Carnell Tate Rumors on Giants, Chiefs, Titans, More Meetings Scheduled Ahead of 2026 NFL Draft

The next first-round wide receiver out of Ohio State has reportedly drawn the interest of a number of teams around the league ahead of the 2026 NFL draft.

ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi reported Wednesday that Carnell Tate already met with the Cleveland Browns and has meetings scheduled with a list of teams that includes the Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Washington Commanders, New York Giants and Kansas City Chiefs.

That so many teams are meeting with Tate comes as no surprise.

After all, he is arguably the best wide receiver in this draft class and was the No. 5 overall pick in the latest mock draft from B/R's NFL Scouting Department. B/R also ranked him as the wide receiver with the best hands and the best route-running ability.

For his part, Tate agrees.

"I'm a football player," Tate told reporters Wednesday at Ohio State's pro day. "I got the best route-running ability out there in the draft, probably in the country, even in the league. So, I just did what I do best while out there, run routes and catch the football."

If there is any concern about his game, it is his overall speed after he ran a 4.53-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. He didn't run in Wednesday's pro day and said the drill is "overvalued" and not something he was too worried about because teams didn't express any issues with his speed.

"I think I'm a great football player," Tate said. "My speed ... the combine is one time, but ultimately I'm a great football player. When you put the pads on, it's another level."

The case can be made that all of those teams scheduled to meet with him could use a playmaker like Tate. He could be the No. 2 wide receiver alongside Chris Olave in New Orleans, Terry McLaurin in Washington or Malik Nabers in New York while also potentially giving Tennessee a future No. 1 receiver to develop alongside quarterback Cam Ward.

Being a secondary option in the aerial attack is something he is used to considering he played alongside Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr. during his collegiate career, and he showed the ability to take advantage of the additional space that comes from those receivers drawing extra attention.

That will surely come up in some of his meetings as teams evaluate and discuss his overall game.