The Washington Commanders are navigating a challenging 2025 campaign, and everyone is already examining how the front office can provide Jayden Daniels with genuine support. Terry McLaurin remains a star, but injuries and a lack of depth have left the receiving corps thin too many times this year.
This has draft experts looking toward the 2026 NFL Draft as the primary way for Washington to find a consistent secondary weapon to pair with their young quarterback.
How Would Carnell Tate Impact the Washington Commanders’ Passing Attack?
With holes at skill positions becoming more obvious, PFSN analyst James Fragoza has projected Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate to go No. 8 overall to the Commanders in his latest mock draft.
This projection puts Tate in high company, ranking him ahead of other first-round prospects like Jordyn Tyson of Arizona State, Makai Lemon of USC, KC Concepcion of Texas A&M, and Denzel Boston of Washington. The move would bring another high-level talent into the fold for a team looking to stabilize the offense.
Beyond just the ranking, Tate is climbing draft boards because of his reliable hands and polished route running, garnering respect as the type of receiver who wins with technique and football IQ rather than relying on pure speed to beat defenders. This skill set allows the standout playmaker to use his 6’3″ frame and catch radius to reel in tough grabs in traffic or the red zone. His ability to read defenses gives him a clear edge, making him a prospect who looks ready to contribute as soon as he steps onto an NFL field.
“Terry McLaurin is joined by yet another Ohio State standout WR in Carnell Tate,” Fragoza wrote. “Although Jeremiah Smith is all the rage in Columbus, Tate’s smoothness and technical skill at 6’3″, 195 pounds make him a no-brainer first-rounder.”
Additionally, his production on the field backs up the hype. Tate has recorded 118 receptions for 1,835 yards and 14 touchdowns through 38 games with the Buckeyes, averaging 15.6 yards per catch and 48.3 yards per game, while collecting a 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship and 2025 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honor.
Being a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist shows the level of elite talent he brings, and his dedication throughout the 2025 season has earned him plenty of praise from the coaching staff in Columbus.
“His accountability is tremendous,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said earlier this season. “His blocking, his routes… he’s carving out his own legacy here. He’s extremely talented running routes and catching balls, you can see all that, but he’s becoming a complete football player.”
The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. To see how the rest of the board might fall, check out PFSN’s latest mock drafts or try the free PFSN draft simulator, which lets you use different big boards to customize your own outlook for the Commanders and the rest of the league.
