Brett Kollmann isn’t fully buying the idea that Carnell Tate belongs in the very top tier of the 2026 NFL Draft, even as the Ohio State wideout continues to climb boards across the league. Tate’s production, physical tools, and contested-catch ability have made him one of the most talked-about receivers in the class.
Kollmann, the founder of All 32 and cohost of the “Bootleg Football” podcast, added more context during his latest evaluation, especially with other wideouts making strong cases of their own as draft day approaches. While he sees Tate as a quality NFL contributor, he’s not aligned with the growing sentiment that the receiver profiles as a true No. 1 option at the next level.
Brett Kollmann Pushes Back on Carnell Tate Top-10 NFL Draft Buzz
During his 2026 Live Mock Draft Special, Kollmann emphasized that while Tate is firmly in the first-round mix, there’s a gap between that and being a true top-10 lock.
“Carnell Tate has a lot of fans, but I don’t see him like a lot of other people do. I do think that he’s a first-round player in this class, but I don’t see him as a top-10 player in this class.”
That difference speaks to how Kollmann projects Tate’s role at the next level. Rather than projecting him as a go-to, offense-defining target, he sees a player who thrives as a complementary piece.
“I don’t think Carnell is an X in the NFL, I’m not gonna lie. I see Tate differently than consensus. I think Tate is a No. 2 [WR] in the NFL. I don’t think Tate is a [WR]1.”
Being labeled a high-end WR2 rather than a true WR1 can significantly affect where teams are willing to invest a premium pick.
For Tate, the production backs up much of the hype. He earned a B grade with an 84.5 PFSN CFB WR Impact Metric through 10 games in 2025, ranking No. 8 among receivers. Tate hauled in 48 of his 58 targets for 838 yards and 9 touchdowns, while posting a 28.2% catch rate over expectation. That efficiency highlights his ability to win in tight coverage, even if Kollmann questions whether that translates to true No. 1 usage at the next level.
Kollmann doubled down on that projection by outlining what Tate’s role could realistically look like in the NFL.
“His best role is being a very solid, reliable No. 2 WR in the NFL.”
He went on to frame Tate as a dependable chain-mover rather than a dominant, game-breaking presence.
“Tate is gonna be good for 4 catches, 55-60 yards, and all of them are gonna be first downs. I think he’s a good route-runner, not an elite route-runner. I think he’s a good athlete, not an elite athlete. I think he’s a good separator, not an elite separator. He’s just a very solid, all-around player. A classic No. 2 WR in the NFL. He’s not going to f**k up his assignment. He’s an okay, solid piece.”
Tate’s floor is appealing, but the debate centers on whether his ceiling matches the expectations tied to a potential top-10 selection.
Jordyn Tyson, Makai Lemon Add Pressure to WR Rankings
Some of the uncertainty around Tate comes down to how deep this receiver class is. Kollmann highlighted two other names in the mix, both often included in the same breath as Tate, each offering a different kind of skill set.
He views Jordyn Tyson as the “most talented” wide receiver in the class, a significant label given the depth at the position. Tyson’s tools and playmaking ability have consistently flashed, even if his overall production has been less dominant. He finished 2025 ranked No. 23 at the position with an 81.2 impact score and a B- grade, suggesting there is still room for growth if everything clicks at the next level.
On the other end of the spectrum is Makai Lemon, whom Kollmann labeled the “safest” option among the top receivers. Lemon’s profile is built on consistency and polish. He ranked No. 4 in WRi in 2025, producing 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns on 79 receptions while earning an overall score of 85.1 in his final season at USC.
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
That contrast is likely part of the broader debate teams had when building their draft boards. Tate offers size and contested-catch dominance, Tyson brings high-end upside, and Lemon provides reliability and proven production.
From that perspective, Kollmann’s take on Tate adds up. It’s not so much about doubting his talent as it is how close things are at the top of this stellar receiver class.
