NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints hold the eighth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and have their eyes on Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate to give Tyler Shough the weapons he needs.
Ohio State Connection Could Light Up Superdome
Tyler Shough enters his second season with the job locked down at quarterback. The Saints already have one former Buckeye star in Chris Olave, who delivered a breakout 2025 campaign with 100 catches for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns. No other Saints receiver topped 50 grabs, 500 yards or two scores, especially after the midseason trade of Rashid Shaheed.
Carnell Tate offers the perfect fix. The 6-foot-2 receiver racked up 121 catches for 1,872 yards and 14 touchdowns across 39 games at Ohio State. He helped the Buckeyes win a national championship in 2024 before posting career highs of 875 yards and nine scores in his final college season. ESPN’s Jordan Reid reports the Saints stay open to the best player available at No. 8 but would pounce on Tate if he reaches them.
The Buckeye reunion could spark instant chemistry. Olave and Tate would stretch defenses horizontally and vertically, forcing safeties to pick their poison while Shough fires downfield. You could almost feel the Superdome crowd rise early on those deep crosses and fade routes.
“You can’t go wrong with Ohio State, whether it’s Caleb or Carnell. I think he’s one of, if not the best receivers in the draft.” — Tyler Shough, Saints QB
What It Means for 2026 and Beyond
Landing Tate would instantly fix the Saints’ biggest offensive hole. Shough flashed real promise late in his rookie year and now gets two proven Ohio State playmakers who already understand how to win at the next level. The offense lacked balance and depth last season. Tate brings polished route running, strong hands and red-zone presence that defenses cannot ignore.
This move positions New Orleans to push harder in the NFC South. Shough showed he can lead late drives; pair him with Olave and Tate and the Saints suddenly own one of the more explosive receiving rooms in the league. The front office clearly wants to build around its young quarterback rather than chase short-term fixes. Fans already buzzing about the draft will see two Buckeyes torch secondaries together — and that kind of excitement sells tickets before the first snap.
