The Washington Commanders’ defensive spending spree this offseason has fundamentally reshaped how the franchise can approach April’s draft. The Commanders invested heavily in their pass rush during free agency, committing over $190 million in total defensive contracts.
That aggressive approach now positions general manager Adam Peters to address a glaring need on the opposite side of the ball: receiver. In a new mock draft from Pro Football Sports Network, analyst Reese Decker projects Washington to select Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 7 overall.
How Carnell Tate Fits the Washington Commanders’ Receiver Room
The Commanders’ receiver situation has grown complicated. Deebo Samuel Sr. is now a free agent after a disappointing 2025 campaign for Washington, leaving Terry McLaurin without a proven running mate.
The anticipated Brandon Aiyuk reunion with Jayden Daniels remains in limbo as the San Francisco 49ers hold onto the receiver, hoping to extract trade value rather than release him outright. Moreover, the 49ers could drag this situation into June.
“The Commanders signed four edge rushers in free agency, including $100 million man Odafe Oweh, giving them the flexibility to target the best separator in the draft, Carnell Tate,” Decker wrote in his mock draft. “Tate is a true technician. Everything he does is sharp and precise.”
“An elite route runner, he consistently wins with leverage, attacks space, and finds ways to win,” Decker added. “Tate would form an excellent tag-team partnership with fellow Buckeye Terry McLaurin.”
McLaurin, meanwhile, turns 31 in September after missing seven games due to injury in 2025. His 38 receptions for 582 yards represented career lows, and according to PFSN’s WR Impact Metric, McLaurin finished the season as the 15th-ranked wideout in the league.
Enter Tate, who checks every box Washington needs. The former five-star recruit caught 51 passes for 875 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2025, averaging 17.2 yards per reception while playing opposite Jeremiah Smith in Columbus. According to PFSN, Tate is ranked as the best receiver in the upcoming draft and the sixth-best player among all prospects.
A Look at the Commanders’ Defensive Free Agency Haul
Washington’s defensive overhaul included significant investments across the front seven:
- Odafe Oweh: 4 years, $96 million ($68M guaranteed)
- K’Lavon Chaisson: 1 year, $11 million
- Charles Omenihu: 1 year, $4 million
- Tim Settle Jr.: 3 years, $23.49 million
- Leo Chenal: 3 years, $24.75 million
- Nick Cross: 2 years, $13 million
- Amik Robertson: 2 years, $15.02 million
All the above values are reported by Spotrac.
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That defensive spending, combined with returning edge rusher Dorance Armstrong off a torn ACL, gives Peters the flexibility to pivot toward offense with the No. 7 pick. Tate’s combination of contested-catch ability, route precision, and Ohio State pedigree makes him an ideal complement to Daniels entering Year 3.
