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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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After a surprising 8–9 finish that left them out of the playoffs, the Baltimore Ravens entered the 2026 offseason with several key issues to address.
Inconsistent offense in critical moments, thin proven pass-catching depth, and the urgency to maximize Lamar Jackson’s prime quickly became the defining storyline.
That’s why Friday’s bombshell from Fox Sports immediately shifted the conversation.
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In the outlet’s first post–NFL Scouting Combine mock draft, Henry McKenna projected Ohio State Buckeyes football star Carnell Tate to slide to No. 14 overall, right into Baltimore’s lap.
McKenna argued Tate would be the ideal WR1 for Jackson and could fill the very void Ravens fans have long pointed to.
“What a delight for Lamar Jackson. Tate is exactly the type of WR1 that Ravens fans have bemoaned not having. And he’ll immediately make life easier for Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman,” McKenna wrote.
“The timing is good, too, with Isaiah Likely possibly leaving in free agency and Mark Andrews clearly aging.”
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At Ohio State, Tate hauled in 51 receptions for 875 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025, a blistering 17.2 yards per catch, cementing his reputation as one of college football’s premier contested-catch specialists and vertical threats.
Scouts consistently highlight his 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame, expansive catch radius, and ability to win 50/50 balls as translatable traits that project immediately to an NFL WR1 role.
From Baltimore’s perspective, the argument is straightforward. Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman offer explosiveness and upside, but neither has firmly established himself as a true alpha receiver.
Meanwhile, veteran tight end Mark Andrews, Jackson’s security blanket for years, turns 31 in September and experienced a noticeable statistical dip in 2025, finishing with 422 yards and five touchdowns, the lowest yardage output of his career.
Isaiah Likely is also projected to hit free agency in 2026, leaving more urgency to add receiving talent.
But would Tate realistically fall to No. 14? It’s unlikely, though not impossible.
The 2026 class is widely viewed as top-heavy at edge rusher and other premium positions. A positional run early, coupled with quarterback or tackle movement, could allow a receiver, even the consensus WR1, to slide further than expected.
Recent mocks frequently slotted Tate inside the top 10, linking him to receiver-needy franchises such as the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, and Kansas City Chiefs.
If the board breaks the right way, however, Baltimore, operating squarely in win-now mode with a franchise quarterback who would immediately benefit, becomes a logical landing spot.
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