FOX Sports' Joel Klatt foresees former Ohio State Buckeyes receiver Carnell Tate landing with the best possible landing spot this offseason for immediate success: the New York Giants, who have a new head coach, a second-year quarterback with unlimited potential, and an established WR1 who may be slow to regain that form, opening up the chance for Tate to be an immediate difference-maker.
New head coach John Harbaugh has a proven track record with uber-athletic dual-threat quarterbacks like Jaxson Dart. While Malik Nabers is recovering from an ACL injury, Tate could become the immediate top target. After Nabers went down in 2025, it was clear there was no pecking order behind him that could thrive.
Tate's ability to dominate in jump-ball settings and single-coverage could not only make life easier for Nabers, but it could give Dart a potential No. 1, since he and Nabers have only shared the field for a few drives and have completed two passes together.
Klatt made a good point about potentially playing in Nabers' shadow: he's used to it from playing alongside the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2024 class and the consensus best player in College Football, Jeremiah Smith.
"John Harbaugh has a really specific blueprint, and the Giants have some really pressing needs on their roster. However, I think they'll make a vanity pick here. They can give Jaxson Dart some help as wide receiver Malik Nabers makes his way back from an ACL tear. I think Dart is at his best when he's pushing the ball down the field, and no wide receiver in this draft was better at making contested grabs," Klatt said.
Carnell Tate can be the next Justin Jefferson in the NFL
So much of the Tate conversation always revolves around Smith. In 2024, it also revolved around Emeka Egbuka. Before that, during his freshman year, Tate was low on the totem pole, and Marvin Harrison Jr. was up at the top.
In the NFL, Tate could become the next Justin Jefferson and show that he always had WR1 talent and simply found himself in a legendary receiving corps. Jefferson famously played second fiddle to Ja'Marr Chase in 2019 during the LSU Tigers' legendary title run, spearheaded by Heisman winner Joe Burrow, before becoming one of the top wideouts in the NFL. In Baton Rouge, Jefferson did damage out of the slot because he had to. Ditto for Tate, who played out of the slot despite being better as an X or Z.
Tate's time could be coming sooner than later. Many in Buckeye Nation will have always known he had that in him when that time inevitably comes.