Carnell Tate Scouting Report

Carnell tate

Position: Wide Receiver
Class: Junior
School: Ohio State
Height: 6'3" | Weight: 190-195 lbs

Mark Kinley

Overview

Carnell Tate enters the draft process as one of the more intriguing receiver prospects in the class. He is not a receiver who wins with blazing long speed or consistently flashy route running, but his ability to secure the football is elite, paired with his smooth, intelligent route running. Tate is a true ball-winner who attacks the catch point and routinely finishes plays others cannot. While questions remain about his pure vertical speed and ability to handle physical defenders at the line of scrimmage, his frame, body control, hands, and route intelligence give him a high baseline projection with room to grow.

Tate may require an adjustment period at the NFL level as he adapts to increased physicality, particularly against press coverage and stronger defensive backs. A lingering calf injury late in the season limited his play speed and explosiveness, which must be contextualized when evaluating his film.

Strengths

• Elite Hands & Catch Radius - Tate grabs everything thrown in his vicinity. He consistently plucks the ball away from his frame and finishes through contact. His 86% catch rate (PFF) reflects his reliability and ability to convert targets into completions.

• Ball Skills & Contested Catch Ability - Excellent at attacking the football in the air. High-points well, tracks the ball cleanly, and shows no hesitation in contested situations. Plays through defenders on underthrown balls, leveraging body positioning and timing in a way that should translate extremely well to the NFL and consistently draw flags.

• Body Control & Sideline Awareness - Arguably his best trait. Tate shows outstanding body control along the boundary, routinely working back to the ball, positioning defenders on his back, and getting both feet down. Displays NFL-level awareness near the sidelines.
  

• High Route IQ & Tempo Control - Tate is a smart, calculated route runner who understands leverage, spacing, and defensive structure. He varies tempo effectively, sells vertical stems, and manipulates defenders with subtle head fakes and pacing rather than suddenness. His ability to read coverage on the fly and settle into soft spots against zone coverage gives quarterbacks a reliable, on-schedule target.

• Route Tempo & Hip Sync - While not flashy, Tate syncs his hips and feet well at the top of routes, allowing him to decelerate efficiently and create late separation. Wins consistently on timing routes such as comebacks, curls, fades, deep outs, and intermediate breaking routes.

• Functional Deep Threat - While not a burner, Tate projects as an effective NFL deep threat through ball skills rather than speed. He tracks the ball exceptionally well downfield, stacks defenders with positioning, and wins vertically on fades, back-shoulders, and underthrown balls. His ability to control his body and finish in contested situations allows him to generate explosive plays without needing true 4.3 speed.

• Frame with Growth Potential - Has room to add functional strength to his build, which could raise his ceiling as a physical possession receiver and help him better withstand contact at the next level.

Areas to improve/slight concerns

• Long Speed / Vertical Separation Concerns - Does not consistently win vertically with pure speed and is unlikely to be a true separation-based deep threat at the next level.

• Adjustment to Physicality - Will likely need time to acclimate to NFL-level contact. Physical corners can disrupt his release and timing, especially early in his career, until he adds strength and improves his hand usage.

• Limited YAC Threat - Not a major run-after-catch weapon. Lacks the burst and elusiveness to consistently create yardage after the catch and will primarily win before or at the catch point.

• Separation vs Man Coverage -Relies more on ball skills and route intelligence than sudden separation, which may limit volume against tight, athletic man coverage.

  
  

Projection & Development Outlook

Tate projects as a reliable possession receiver who can contribute early in defined roles, particularly in timing-based passing offenses. His hands, body control, route intelligence, and coverage awareness should translate immediately, while added strength and continued refinement of his release package could significantly improve his ability to beat press coverage over time.

He may never profile as a true WR1 from an athletic standpoint, but Tate has the traits to become a dependable starter and trusted target, especially on third downs, in the red zone, and on vertical shots that rely on ball placement rather than speed.

Grade:

Mid Day 1 (Personal Grade)

Based on my evaluation, Tate carries a mid-Day 1 grade due to his elite hands, body control, route IQ, and consistency at the catch point. While his athletic profile caps his ceiling relative to true separation-based receivers, his floor, translatability, and quarterback-friendly skill set elevate his overall value on my board.

I believe Tate will ultimately be drafted higher than my personal grade, as NFL teams consistently value receivers who win at the catch point, understand coverage, and convert targets at a high rate. This is not a mock draft projection, but a reflection of league-wide valuation trends.

When my board is finalized, Tate will likely settle somewhere between 10–15th overall.