A projected 2026 NFL draft scenario suggests Washington could use the No. 7 pick to address its passing game, pairing Jayden Daniels with Ohio State WR Carnell Tate to ease pressure on Terry McLaurin.
The Washington Commanders are staring at the same football problem—how to give Jayden Daniels more reliable help in the passing game—when they look toward the next NFL draft.
In a recent projection of possible 2026 options around the seventh overall pick. one name stands out for how directly it targets Washington’s offensive needs: Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate.. The core idea is simple.. If the Commanders are going to get back to form offensively. they may need to add a polished receiving target early—especially given that the team’s receiving improvements haven’t matched the urgency of the moment.
Washington’s scoring output last season. according to Misryoum’s review of the situation. was about 20 points per game. a figure that signals an offense capable of moving the ball but still missing the kind of dependable playmaking that changes drives into points.. That gap is even clearer when you look at how wide receiver depth has been handled.. Misryoum also notes that Washington didn’t add many new playmakers at the position through free agency. leaving the burden to an already established number-one threat.
Tate enters the conversation with production history that fits the draft-day need: in three seasons at Ohio State. Misryoum notes he totaled 121 receptions for 1. 872 yards and nine touchdowns.. Those aren’t just résumé numbers; they reflect a receiver who was repeatedly used as a go-to option during stretches when Ohio State’s offense was at its most dangerous—particularly during its national championship run.. For Washington. that matters because the Commanders don’t just need a wideout with speed; they need a reliable presence who can win targets and sustain efficiency.
The most practical reason Tate would matter is what it would do to Terry McLaurin’s role.. McLaurin has been the centerpiece. and Misryoum’s perspective is that when one receiver has to shoulder too much attention for too long. it reshapes the entire offense.. Opponents don’t have to guess who the quarterback is aiming for; they can pressure that side. bracket the routes. and force everything else to prove it belongs.. Pairing McLaurin with a second threat like Tate would take some of that strain off. creating more room for Daniels to operate with rhythm instead of improvisation.
There’s also a clear storyline behind the timing.. Washington previously tried to address the second-receiver problem by trading for Deebo Samuel.. That move brought immediate impact on paper—Samuel led the team in receptions and yards—but Misryoum’s understanding of the situation includes the real football trade-off that often comes with that kind of acquisition: Samuel’s presence can shift defensive attention. yet it doesn’t automatically solve depth and continuity.. Samuel’s eventual move to free agency reopens the question Washington will have to answer again—who plays consistently at the WR2 role without forcing the offense into constant adjustments.
If Washington’s draft board breaks in a way that allows Tate to be available. Misryoum projects that he would become a strong candidate for the WR2 spot behind McLaurin.. That would also create internal competition with players already on the roster. including Dyami Brown. who could be asked to hold ground if Washington adds Tate.. For a team trying to stabilize its passing attack. that type of competition can be beneficial—so long as the incoming talent provides immediate. game-changing quality.
Why the Commanders’ WR2 decision could define the offense
Misryoum’s analysis also points to the broader NFL trend that makes a WR1/WR2 pairing so valuable right now: offenses are increasingly built to stress coverage. and defenses can’t afford to sacrifice either side of the formation.. If McLaurin is covered tightly. Washington needs a complement who can win from the slot. work the intermediate areas. and maintain efficiency even when defenses try to take away the obvious plays.
The bigger picture: Daniels needs more than one target
The decision becomes even more important when you consider how often injuries and defensive game plans can disrupt continuity.. Misryoum notes that McLaurin’s availability has been a factor. and that reality is part of why the team can’t treat WR depth as a luxury.. With a healthy Daniels season relying on consistent production. Washington likely wants to ensure the passing game doesn’t lose its identity when opponents change their coverage.
In the end. the most telling part of the projection is the underlying message Misryoum draws from it: Washington is looking for a way to get its offense back on track by addressing the receiver position sooner rather than later.. If Carnell Tate is on the board and Washington believes he can be the stabilizing WR2 answer. pairing him with McLaurin could become the draft-day move that turns a solid offense into a more reliable one.