On Monday's episode of The Arena: Gridiron, the case all views Carnell Tate just a little bit differently.
Monday's episode of The Arena: Gridiron, the topic of debate was ranking the top-three wide receivers in the NFL Draft. The guys on the panel all view Ohio State's Carnell Tate a little differently, and one of them even "doesn't see it" with the Buckeyes target.
Across the board, the consensus is that Tate is absolutely a top-3 wideout and will be selected in the first round. While he is a rare blend of size, strength, and wide receiver skills, he does lack a little bit in the athleticism category.
Of course, Skip Bayless "doesn't see it" with Tate, but the rest of the football players on the panel know exactly what he is going to bring to the table.
He is also a victim of his circumstances at Ohio State. He played in the one two-year stretch that he was second and third fiddle to one of the greatest wide receivers to ever step foot on a college football field.
Even with Jeremiah Smith on the other side of the line of scrimmage, Tate did more than show his worth. He finished last season, his first real one, being an every-down wide receiver, with 51 catches for 875 yards and nine touchdowns.
Teams were spooked by Tate after the combine when he posted a 4.53 forty-yard dash that showed that he may not have the elite straight-line speed that some are looking for.
To that I say cut on the tape.
Tate has a ridiculously great ability and instinct at the wide receiver position. He runs his routes with such precision and attention to detail that he creates yards of separation in just a few steps.
Getting open is just half the battle; catching the football is the most important next step, and Tate does that better than anyone. Anyone who graduates from the Brian Hartline school of wide receiver catches the ball aggressively with his hands.
Tate attacks the football, and that is a valuable skill to possess in the NFL.
The ceiling for Tate is at pick No. 5 to the New York Giants, while the floor is pick No. 9 to the Kansas City Chiefs. He is too valuable a player, and I do believe that General Managers know what they are going to get in an Ohio State wide receiver, and they don't want to miss out on it.
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