Ohio State has grow to be a gold mine for NFL scouts in search of elite huge receiver prospects. Previously 4 NFL drafts courting to 2022, 5 Buckeyes wideouts have been drafted within the first spherical. That is probably the most WRs to go in Spherical 1 from one college over a four-year interval since Alabama had 5 go between 2020-23, per ESPN Analysis.
The 2026 draft will add one other in Carnell Tate. He’s projected to be a top-10 decide and is arguably the WR1 within the class. And we must always have one more in 2027, when Jeremiah Smith is prone to be a top-five choice and will even be the primary WR chosen No. 1 general since Keyshawn Johnson in 1996.
High quality huge receiver play is not new at Ohio State. Moreover latest non-first-round hits resembling Michael Thomas (2016) and Terry McLaurin (2019), Buckeyes alums embrace Corridor of Famer Cris Carter, Joey Galloway, Tremendous Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes and Ted Ginn Jr. However it was this present run of extremely touted OSU receivers turning into high-end professionals that prompted me to return and take a look at our predraft notes on every participant and rank them based mostly on what they have been as prospects popping out of Columbus.
This is not taking NFL manufacturing or potential under consideration — solely the participant’s predraft report. However I additionally talked to a handful of NFL scouts, coaches and basic managers to get their takes. I included my predraft rankings for the particular draft lessons they have been every in.
It must be no shock who’s on the prime (for now), however the remainder of the listing is a captivating and enjoyable take a look at Ohio State’s huge receiver pipeline. The place does Tate — who will work out on the Buckeyes’ professional day Wednesday — slot in? May he be the subsequent nice OSU move catcher? Let’s rank him towards the 5 latest first-rounders.
Bounce to a receiver:
Egbuka | Harrison | Olave
Smith-Njigba | Tate | Wilson
Predraft rating: No. 2 general, WR1
Drafted: No. 4, Arizona Cardinals
Harrison was considered a generational expertise when he left Ohio State following a three-year profession by which he accrued 155 catches, 2,613 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns. After breaking out as a freshman with three touchdowns within the 2022 Rose Bowl, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Harrison was a unanimous All-American as a sophomore and junior and gained the Biletnikoff Award in 2023. He was the primary non-quarterback chosen in 2024.
Harrison was praised as knowledgeable huge receiver with elite route operating and robust palms. There have been considerations surrounding his lack of yards-after-catch potential, together with a predraft course of that noticed him sit out of conventional testing on the NFL mix and his professional day. However I noticed a WR with “glorious physique management, breakaway pace and a savvy understanding of the wideout place,” as I wrote in my remaining scouting report.
In his two seasons as a professional, Harrison has not but lived as much as his predraft expectations, catching simply 103 passes for 1,493 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns over that point. He missed 5 video games as a result of a heel harm in 2025.
“I am shocked he is not an All-Professional but,” an AFC scout mentioned.
Predraft rating: No. 5 general, WR1
Drafted: No. 20, Seattle Seahawks
I did not go along with the consensus previous to the 2023 draft, rating Smith-Njigba as my prime huge receiver — forward of Zay Flowers and Jordan Addison — and the No. 5 general participant on my board. My religion has paid off; JSN broke out as one of many league’s finest receivers final season, main the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards. He had 119 catches and 10 touchdowns en path to NFL Offensive Participant of the 12 months honors. He was rewarded with a four-year, $168.6 million extension on Monday, the best ever for a large receiver.
The 6-foot, 197-pounder was knocked by some evaluators as a “slot-only” prospect as a result of his restricted dimension and common pace, however his potential to get open as a route runner stood out. I beloved his quickness out and in of his breaks and general physique management.
“He was probably the most polished receiver of the group [dating to 2022] and will educate a clinic on route operating and leverage,” mentioned an NFL basic supervisor.
Smith-Njigba jumped onto the draft radar as a sophomore in 2021, with 95 catches for 1,606 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns. That included seven video games with greater than 100 receiving yards and an unbelievable Rose Bowl efficiency towards Utah by which he caught 15 passes for 347 yards and three touchdowns. Regardless of being restricted to 3 video games in 2022 due to a hamstring harm, Smith-Njigba’s tape confirmed a well-rounded, do-it-all receiver prepared for the NFL. And that dominant Rose Bowl helped persuade scouts he was the game-changer that he turned out to be within the league.
Predraft rating: No. 12 general, WR3
Drafted: No. 10, New York Jets
Wilson and teammate Chris Olave began the present run of famous person Buckeyes receivers. The 6-foot, 183-pound Wilson wowed on the mix with a 4.38-second time within the 40-yard-dash that cemented his inventory as a top-15 prospect. It was the cherry on prime of three seasons in Columbus that noticed him emerge as an ace yards-after-catch participant with nice play energy on a smaller body. Wilson left Ohio State with 23 profession touchdowns, highlighted by a breakout junior season in 2021; he had 70 receptions for 1,058 receiving yards and 12 scores that 12 months regardless of sharing the goal load with Olave and Smith-Njigba.
“Wilson could be WR2 on my private board based mostly on predraft rankings … he was so good at 50-50 balls and fought his butt off with the ball in his palms. You do not see many smaller guys do this,” an NFC South scout mentioned.
Wilson ripped off three straight 1,000-yard seasons for the Jets to start out his profession. In 2024, he hauled in 101 passes for 1,104 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns, however he missed 9 video games in 2025 as a result of a hyperextended knee in October and a sprain to that knee in November.
Present rating: No. 9 general, WR2
Greatest crew matches: New York Giants, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, Miami Dolphins
Like a number of receivers on this listing, Tate was by no means the No. 1 goal in Columbus. Even in his remaining season, he was the secondary choice behind Jeremiah Smith. However he has been capable of impress in a No. 2 function along with his routes, toughness and skill to play above the rim.
“You watch his route operating and his physique management, and inform me that is not Justin Jefferson at LSU,” mentioned an NFC space scout.
Tate wins like Jefferson does — with timing, physique management and fast cuts that enable him to separate with or with out the ball. The 6-foot-2, 192-pound Tate performs a lot greater than his listed dimension, too.
“He high-points so properly. The primary time I noticed him play I assumed he have to be 6-foot-4 along with his size and vertical potential,” mentioned the identical scout.
Tate’s robust palms are a résumé trait. He had just one drop on 67 targets final season, ending with 51 catches for 875 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns in 11 video games. He’s a possible top-10 decide within the upcoming draft and will go as excessive as No. 5 general to the Giants.
Predraft rating: No. 15 general, WR4
Drafted: No. 11, New Orleans Saints
I contemplate Olave a private miss, as I had him decrease in my predraft rankings than most. He examined significantly better than I anticipated on the 2022 mix, highlighted by his 4.39 40-yard sprint. At 6-foot, 187 kilos, Olave was seen by scouts as an NFL-ready route runner with good vertical pace and exceptionally clean actions all through the route tree.
The knock on Olave on the time was how a lot house was afforded to receivers in Ohio State’s scheme. However he scored 35 touchdowns in 4 seasons with the Buckeyes, and he had three years of greater than 700 receiving yards and a minimum of 49 catches.
“I did not suppose [Olave] was powerful sufficient to hold with NFL corners,” an AFC East scout mentioned — a sentiment that matches my predraft notes.
Olave rapidly made his mark in New Orleans, although. In 4 NFL seasons, he has caught 291 passes for 19 touchdowns and is coming off his finest season in 2025 (100 catches, 1,163 receiving yards and 9 scores). My colleague Mel Kiper Jr. truly has Tate becoming a member of Olave in New Orleans in his latest 2026 mock draft.
Predraft rating: No. 23 general, WR4
Drafted: No. 19, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Egbuka left Ohio State after 4 seasons, three of which he served because the crew’s No. 2 huge receiver. He was broadly praised by scouts within the predraft course of for his toughness, management and team-first mentality. A captain for the Buckeyes’ 2024 nationwide championship squad, Egbuka was fearless over the center and in visitors regardless of being simply 6-foot-1 and 202 kilos. And like most of the receivers on this listing, he was a elegant route runner with positive palms.
In three years as a starter, he produced two seasons with greater than 1,000 receiving yards and had 24 touchdowns on 196 catches.
“He was one among my favourite gamers to observe final 12 months,” an NFL basic supervisor mentioned. “I used to be pissed when he went to Tampa as a result of it is such an excellent match for his expertise.”
Egbuka produced instantly as a rookie, with 63 receptions for 938 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns. With Mike Evans signing with the 49ers as a free agent this offseason, Egbuka is on observe to be the Buccaneers’ No. 1 receiver in 2026.
