Ohio State's Carnell Tate reveals what Commanders QB told him before the draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2026 NFL Draft opens Thursday night in Pittsburgh, and Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels may have already tried to influence how the night goes.
Wide receiver Carnell Tate appeared on the Up and Adams show with Kay Adams and revealed that Daniels reached out to him directly over social media before the first round, telling the former Ohio State pass-catcher he hopes things work out and he ends up in Washington.
The Commanders own the No. 7 overall pick, and Tate is widely projected as one of the first wide receivers called to the podium.
"I haven't [met Jayden Daniels]," Tate told Adams. "[He] reached out over social media to me. We had a little text going back and forth... He just said that hopefully, it all works out I end up [in Washington]. Just wishing me well."
Worth noting that these two have never met in person, which makes it harder to write off as a generic courtesy gesture.
Wow: Commanders QB Jayden Daniels reached out to WR Carnell Tate, saying that he hopes Tate gets drafted by the team tonight."We had a little text going back and forth. He said hopefully that it works out, I end up here."πππ(via @UpAndAdamsShow)pic.twitter.com/1emI3hT2gQ
A starting quarterback going out of his way to privately lobby for a prospect is the kind of thing that reflects real appetite for offensive weapons.
Washington's receiving depth behind Terry McLaurin is genuinely thin heading into tonight. The Commanders' 2025 campaign was painful in multiple directions, and the drop-off at receiver beyond McLaurin was a visible problem even when Daniels was available.
Tate posted 48 catches for 730 yards in his final season with the Buckeyes.
He never topped 1,000 yards in a single college season, but he has consistently played as a legitimate deep-threat option for Ohio State.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is the front office's preference at No. 7 if he's still available.
That may hold. But depending on how the first six picks shape out, Tate could still be sitting there when Washington gets on the clock.
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