Ohio State WR Carnell Tate and Arizona State wide receiver Carnell Tate are among the popular draft projections for the Washington Commanders ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
With week 12 officially wrapped up, the Washington Commanders remain in line for the seventh overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft amid questions about a potential return for QB Jayden Daniels at some point to end the 2025 season.
Still, the current 3-8 record has Washington in line for the seventh overall pick with edge, wide receiver, cornerback, linebacker and the interior offensive line among the top priorities next April. But with the NFL calendar officially turned to week 13, updated 2026 NFL mock drafts point to Washington addressing the offensive side of the ball with a pair of outlets split on who the early pick should be.
The Athletic projected the Commanders to select Ohio State WR Carnell Tate with the seventh overall pick with CBS Sports pointing to Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson.
“I’ve had Jordyn Tyson as my WR1 for most of the season, and though I’m still a huge fan, it’s important to note he’s not a lock to claim that spot,” The Athletic wrote. “Tyson has missed a lot of time in his career because of injury, including this season. It’s not unlike Puka Nacua’s situation coming out of BYU. Tate, meantime, has been a revelation for the Buckeyes. He gets better every time out.”
CBS Sports projected Tate to land 16th overall to Pittsburgh with Tyson landing in DC, while USC WR Makai Lemon sandwiched in between them with the 13th overall pick to Carolina. Still, CBS Sports pointed to the rationale for the Commanders to add another playmaker out of Arizona State to its offense. Daniels and Tyson never overlapped with the Sun Devils with Daniels already in DC by the time Tyson arrived at Arizona State, transferring after 22 catches and 470 yards in 2022.
But the 6-foot-2, 200-pound wideout has been one of the most dominant across college football after totaling 1,790 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns on 134 catches over the last two seasons.
Tate is coming off an injury that kept him inactive in Saturday’s blowout win over Rutgers, but arguably no senior wideout has elevated his draft stock more in 2025. Tate has nearly matched last season’s receiving yards output while totaling seven touchdowns in 2025 compared to four in 2024, emphasizing the big-play ability out of the 6-foot-3 receiver.
Tate would have a chance to elevate a unit expected to be anchored by Terry McLaurin, who returns 31 in 2026, and Deebo Samuels’ contract set to expire following the 2025 season.
Washington also enters the 2026 season among the most cap space in the NFL with roughly $60 million available, though general manager Adam Peters could extend that to $80 million if the team moves on from cornerback Marshon Lattimore, whose five-year, $97 million extension is set to expire in 2026. Linebacker Bobby Wagner, quarterback Marcus Mariota, tight end Zach Ertz, linebacker Von Miller, cornerback Noah Igbinoghene, punter Tress Way and running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. are among the over 30 players whose contracts expire following the 2025 season.