A ton of teams are going to try to find the missing piece to take them over the top in the 2026 NFL Draft. One such player, who’s caught a lot of attention, is wide receiver Carnell Tate.
But after a rough time at the NFL Combine, his stock has seen a bit of a dip. Thankfully, though, the Ohio State product found some defense on his side in the form of an NFL legend and one of the greatest wide receivers of his generation.
Chad Johnson Fires Back at Critics After Carnell Tate’s 40-Yard Dash Sparks
This year’s draft is shaping up to be a vitally important one. With the Kansas City Chiefs outright missing the playoffs, the field appears more wide open than ever before. As a result, a variety of teams will be going all guns blazing to make their run.
In a draft that is rife with talent at virtually every position, one key area that has caught everyone’s eye is the wide receiver spot. With a variety of options to choose from, the Buckeyes’ Tate is quickly climbing up the mock boards.
Seen as a potential top-10 pick, his stock unfortunately took a hit at the Scouting Combine. Even after a solid overall performance, his 40-yard time will likely stick with him for quite some time.
After speedsters like Xavier Worthy made timings in the 4.20s all too common, seeing Tate fall behind to 4.53 seconds was a real shocker. One of the best available prospects, his numbers spoke for themselves.
And for a legend like Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, the complete film mattered more than one arbitrary number. Taking to X, he put out an unfiltered defense of the Ohio State product.
“I’m sick of the f**king discourse about Carnell Tate’s 40 time, football isn’t played in a straight line, turn on the got damn film & he’s a bad motherf**ker between the lines. Top 5 pick, anybody want to argue I have 5 minutes to spare before i walk in I-Hop.”
The latest mock draft by PFSN has him going eighth overall to the Cleveland Browns, and it is tough to argue with the choice completely. During his three years in the program, Tate compiled 1,872 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, with final-year numbers of 875 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Even though his 40-yard time might not have been ideal, the overall body of work is hard to deny. Combining his production with a 6-foot-2 frame, he looks poised to be a dangerous threat with the ball in his hands alongside elite catchability.
