With the 2026 NFL Draft approaching, this is usually when things start to shift. Names that felt locked into a certain range a few weeks ago suddenly aren’t anymore, and all it takes is a little momentum for a player to jump into a completely different tier of the conversation.
That is where things stand right now with Carnell Tate.
Ohio State Buckeyes WR Carnell Tate Is Very Much in Play for the Jets
For most of the cycle, he has been viewed as one of the better receivers in the class, a safe first-rounder, and a likely top-10 pick. But recently, there has been more chatter about him going higher than that. Not just inside the top five, but possibly as high as No. 2 overall.
If that happens, it would be new territory for Ohio State receivers. They have built a reputation as one of the best wide receiver pipelines in the country, but even with all the talent they have sent to the league, none have gone quite that high.
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Marvin Harrison Jr. currently holds the program record after being selected fourth overall in 2024. Tate would be setting a new bar.
This all stems from NFL Draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah saying, “I think WR Carnell Tate is in play at 2.” That is the kind of comment that makes people take the possibility more seriously when it comes from a veteran analyst.
“I think WR Carnell Tate is in play at 2.”- @MoveTheSticks 👀
How would you feel about drafting Tate 2nd overall, #Jets fans❓ pic.twitter.com/CE5FPnqvRI
— Harrison Glaser (@NYJetsTFMedia) April 12, 2026
A lot of this is being tied to the New York Jets, who are sitting at No. 2 and still trying to figure out how to get their offense out of neutral. Garrett Wilson is still a clear No. 1 option, but beyond that, it was inconsistent last season under head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey.
They finished 27th in passing yards, which sums up how things went through the air. That is why the idea of adding another high-end receiver keeps coming up. Just having another player who can consistently separate and make plays would take pressure off the entire offense, no matter who is at quarterback.
From a numbers standpoint, Tate checks out. The PFSN consensus big board has him as a top-10 overall prospect and the No. 1 wide receiver in the class. So this isn’t an out-of-nowhere projection; he is already viewed as one of the best players available.
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Still, jumping from “top-10 pick” to “No. 2 overall” is a different conversation. Whether that actually happens is another question. The Jets have multiple early picks and a roster with more than one hole, so they do not necessarily have to force a receiver that high. But at the same time, if they view Tate as a true difference-maker, it would not be the craziest thing either.
Right now, it feels less like a lock and more like something that is at least on the table, which is still a significant jump from where this started.