We’re halfway through the receivers, and have already seen 2 of the consensus top 3 broken down (see Makai Lemon and Jordyn Tyson here, if you haven’t). If the title of the post didn’t give it away… we now have our pick for the best receiver prospect in the draft: Carnell Tate. Here’s why:
Carnell Tate - WR Ohio State
Another year, another Ohio State wide receiver topping draft boards. Though Tate unsurprisingly fits the prototypical OSU build, he plays the game a bit different than any we’ve seen in recent memory. He brings the height, but as an Eagles fan it was tough not to see some DeVonta Smith in his game. That doesn’t tell the whole story, though. Here’s the specifics:
The Great Stuff:
Plays much faster than his tests with bursty releases, instant acceleration, and threatening downfield speed
Route tree is complete and routes are sharp and savvy
High IQ player with innate technique for use of hands, leverage, and positioning
Fluidity in his movement and top-shelf body control
Ultra-reliable hands (no drops last year) that offer a strong, early catch point
Age
The Good Stuff:
Great catch radius and contested catch ability demonstrated on occasion but not the best you’ll see and not utilized often
Skills to break press coverage but not immune to physicality at line of scrimmage or in routes
High motor blocker with ability to block DBs but occasionally out-muscled by bigger assignments
Quick in the open field and highly aggressive with YAC opportunities but not exceptionally elusive
Concerns:
Could be considered a little slight in the weight department
Spent his career opposite elite receivers, never the defense’s prime objective to stop
Though he lacks the size or elusiveness to be an absolute YAC machine, Tate is a timeless archetype at the receiver position that can be moved around the formation and on the field in any situation. I have no doubts he’ll tack on a few pounds in his transition to the NFL game, and though his underwhelming test times may make some managers weary of him playing even heavier, the tape should reassure you that this guy plays fast. Though not an instantly elite route technician at the NFL level, he uses every bit of his above average play speed, body control, change of direction, and technique to be a difficult matchup for just about any corner he’ll face. Though he lacks the pure jump ball ability, the comp that kept coming to mind when watching him operate was A.J. Green, a guy who cut through secondaries without exertion and could plant his foot and get to just about any spot he wanted. Tate profiles as a better pure wide receiver than Lemon and brings a less system-dependent playstyle as well, and while I might give Tyson the edge as an athlete, Tate’s technique and lack of a unsettling injury history make him 2026’s WR1. We’ll see where all three land before making any rookie draft decisions, but the tape talked and we should listen.
Antonio Williams - WR Clemson
Williams does it all. He has 4 seasons as a starting receiver under his belt, returns punts, takes handoffs, and even has thrown touchdown passes each of his last two seasons. What exactly is he bringing to his team at the next level?
The Great Stuff:
Dangerous with the ball in his hands, can survive contact and make guys miss
Really aggressive in the air with the vertical and hands to win contested catches
Really sound hands on routine passes and makes impressive catches when necessary
Super willing blocker with frequently good technique
Young with an exceptionally early breakout age
Swiss army knife that can contribute in as many ways as you can imagine
The Good Stuff:
Long speed and deep ball tracking are solid but not elite
Short routes are decent
Concerns:
Lacking route artistry and not much of a route catalogue of intermediate routes
Could be more durable
Williams feels like he’s knocking on the door of being a really strong receiver, but while his super early breakout age and exceptionally consistent college production him make him a super safe bet to translate to the NFL, they also make it a bit questionable that there is another level to his game that hasn’t been found yet. Williams will get touches in the NFL, and just like at Clemson, he’ll make them worthwhile. The question remains whether he’s a good enough pure receiver to ever be a team’s top option. As much as he is electric to watch, I can’t convince myself he will. The best comp for Williams is Mohamed Sanu. Sure they both have the rare passing element to their game, and are very efficient when doing so, but I actually like the comp more as an indicator of exactly what Williams brings as a receiver. He’ll frequent the slot, win jump balls and get behind the defense. He’ll provide a QB friendly catch radius and factor in as a runner and returner as well, but he’ll probably never have the pure receiver ability to line up against corners rep after rep and get consistent separation. I’m excited to see where he goes, but he won’t be worth your first rounder.
Germie Bernard - WR Alabama
I wouldn’t be surprised if the name I’ve heard most in media coverage of this wide receiver class (outside of the top 3 of course) is Germie Bernard. There are plenty out there who love him, be it his deep threat ability, ability to get the ball in a number of different ways, or his maneuvering in the open field. I went in excited, and I can’t say I ended my film sesh the same. Here’s what I saw:
The Great Stuff:
Effective as a runner and with the ball in his hands after the catch. Can be a really tough tackle at times.
Incorporates physicality as a receiver well, frees him up often
Slippery against zone and can free himself up versus press coverage
The Good Stuff:
Comprehensive route tree though not the most effective on a good chunk of reps
Decent catch radius
Solid blocker
Concerns:
Despite success as a deep threat his play speed looked slow for college, not sure it translates
Not the surest hands on routine passes and lacks jump ball ability
Not much nuance to route running, technical corners stay with him frequently
Bernard’s considerable college success was certainly due in large part to his shiftiness and power with the ball in his hands, but also due to his receiving work as well. Because I’m not sure his tools as a receiver translate to the pro level, I find it a bit tough to project him. The worst case scenario, and not an unlikely one in my opinion, is that he is used as a decently athletic gadget with far from enough touches to ever warrant a starting spot. His floor comp for me, for this reason, is Savion Williams. Williams moved up draft boards through his rookie summer on the back of some flashy highlights and a college deep ball proficiency that was not matched by his test times. I think we’re already seeing the same hype build around Bernard for the same reasons, and the same NFL production is in the cards. The best case scenario? He not only translates as a receiver but continues to build on his game, as he did through college, and becomes an inconsistent but high ceiling wideout that sees peaks and valleys in value. For that reason, I have Jayden Reed as his ceiling comp. I don’t think we quite reach either extreme, but think his career looks a bit more Williams than Reed, and will be wary if he starts moving up draft boards come June.
The film just keeps on rollin’ baby. Cat’s out of the bag, my top 3 goes Tate, Lemon, Tyson, but there’s plenty still to look at. Stay tuned next week for the last of the receivers before we flip the switch to quarterbacks and running backs, which will carry us right up until draft day. Get excited.
-- Dynasty Detour Ryan
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