The NY Giants could form the best wide receiver duo in the NFL with this 1st-round draft pick

As the New York Giants transition into the second year of the Jaxson Dart era, the mission in East Rutherford is crystal clear: provide the young signal-caller with enough firepower to spark his breakout. While Malik Nabers proved to be a rising superstar during his record-breaking rookie campaign, the offense lacks a consistent secondary threat to prevent double teams, especially with Wan’Dale Robinson departing this offseason.

Entering the 2026 NFL Draft with the No. 5 overall pick, Joe Schoen and John Harbaugh have a tantalizing opportunity to overhaul their receiving corps by selecting Ohio State’s Carnell Tate. By pairing Tate’s refined route-running with Nabers’ explosive athleticism, the Giants could field one of the most balanced and terrifying wide receiver duos in the league.

Is Carnell Tate the 2026 NFL Draft’s WR1?

Carnell Tate stands at 6’3″ and weighs 195 pounds. He possesses the ideal X receiver frame — size that the Giants have lacked on the boundary opposite Nabers. During his 2025 junior season, Tate was a First-Team All-Big Ten selection, racking up 51 receptions for 875 yards and 9 touchdowns despite missing time with a calf strain.

He averaged a staggering 17.2 yards per catch and recorded a targeted QB passer rating of 130.6, proving that when you throw the ball his way, good things happen. He hauled in 12 of his 14 contested catch targets this season, a ridiculous 85.7% contested catch conversion rate.

Tate’s 90.3 overall PFF grade in 2025 ranked 6th among all FBS wide receivers. A big play threat, Tate recorded 11 receptions of 30+ yards, ranking 6th in the country. He averaged 37.1 yards per touchdown reception, showing his ability to score from anywhere on the field

Tate & Nabers: Creating Defensive Nightmares

The logic behind drafting Tate at No. 5 — or even in a slight trade-down — is centered on the gravitational pull of Malik Nabers. As a rookie, Nabers was nothing short of outstanding, setting a franchise record with 109 catches for 1,204 yards.

However, defenses were often able to bracket Nabers because the Giants lacked a vertical threat on the opposite side. Tate could be a weapon that commands double teams as well, freeing things up for Nabers. With his vertical speed and elite ball-tracking, Tate would force safeties to stay honest, effectively opening up the intermediate passing lanes for Nabers to feast on missed tackles and yards after catch.

Plus, with Nabers coming off an ACL tear, the Giants need an insurance plan. He might be rusty upon his return to the field, which might not come until after Week 1. The Giants need a primary receiving threat for Dart to target in the meantime, and to take pressure off Nabers’s shoulders when he does return to full strength. Drafting Tate achieves that.

Building the Infrastructure for Jaxson Dart

This move would give Jaxson Dart everything he needs to lead a high-scoring passing attack in 2026. In 2025, Dart showed flashes of brilliance, throwing for 2,272 yards and 15 touchdowns in just 14 games despite Nabers missing the majority of the season.

By adding Tate, the Giants give Dart a weapon with a massive catch radius who caught passes in 37 of his 39 collegiate games. Tate’s ability to win at all three levels provides Dart with a reliable security blanket who can transform the offense into a top-10 unit in Year 2.

The Market & Positional Value Behind Drafting a Wide Receiver in the First Round

While the temptation to go with a defensive unicorn like Sonny Styles is high, the value of an elite WR2 cannot be overstated in today’s NFL. Drafting Tate isn’t just about 2026; it’s about the next five years of the Giants’ passing game.

With Nabers and Tate under contract, the Giants would possess a duo with the potential to rival the likes of Adams/Nacua or Chase/Higgins—only much younger and more affordable. If Joe Schoen wants to ensure that his offense is a powerhouse, getting Dart his newest weapon in the first round might be the move.

Beyond the tape, the move to draft Tate is a lesson in salary cap management and positional value arbitrage. In the modern NFL market, elite wide receivers are routinely clearing the $30 million per year threshold, while the linebacker market remains relatively suppressed, with even top-tier veterans often plateauing in the high teens.

2025 second-team All-Pro Devin Lloyd, for example, hit the open market as one of the best players in the NFL at his position this offseason. His new contract with the Panthers came in at only $15 million per year. Meanwhile, Alec Pierce, a receiver with a career-high of 1,003 yards, re-signed with the Colts on a deal paying him $28.5 million per year.

By drafting Tate, the Giants would secure a potential WR1/WR2 caliber player on a four-year rookie deal worth roughly $9-10 million annually—a massive bargain compared to the bloated salaries currently being handed out to veteran wideouts like Alec Pierce and Wan’Dale Robinson.

Conversely, taking a linebacker like Sonny Styles in the top five would immediately make him one of the highest-paid players at his position before he even takes a snap. The surplus value of a rookie receiver provides a much larger competitive advantage than an expensive, albeit ultra-talented, off-ball linebacker.

Could the Giants Trade Down and Snag Tate?

While the talent is undeniable, the consensus among draft experts suggests that taking Tate at No. 5 might be a slight “reach” based on current board projections. In most recent mock drafts, Tate typically finds his home in the back end of the top 10 or the 10-15 range, as teams often prioritize premium positions like quarterback or edge rusher in the first five picks.

This creates a golden opportunity for the Giants to create a trade-down scenario. By sliding back just a few spots, the Giants could secure a haul of extra draft capital—potentially an additional second- or third-round pick—and still land Tate as their cornerstone WR2.

It’s the kind of high-value maneuvering that would allow the Giants to address their offensive line while still walking away with one of the most explosive receiving duos in the league.

By Anthony Rivardo

Anthony Rivardo is the COO of Empire Sports Media and the host of Fireside Giants, a New York Giants ... More about Anthony Rivardo