The consensus is there's no consensus on who the New York Giants will take with the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, they've been linked to a trio of Ohio State standouts, including wide receiver Carnell Tate.
Tate is a polished route runner with great hands and solid size (6-foot-2, 192 pounds). He has the makings of an instant contributor and talent to be a long-term counterpart to Giants star receiver Malik Nabers. However, there are plenty of fascinating alternatives if New York isn't sold on the 2024 national champion.
Wan'Dale Robinson, the Giants' top pass-catcher from last season, joining the Tennessee Titans in free agency created a need. Many believe New York may target his replacement with the fifth overall selection, with Tate being the most popular name mentioned to date. Yet, the incoming group of rookie wideouts is deep, so waiting on the position is a valid path too.
With that in mind, here are five alternatives to Tate the Giants can choose outside of the first round.
5 WRs other than Carnell Tate the New York Giants can't ignore in the 2026 NFL Draft
Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
At 6-foot-4, 198 pounds, Brazzell has the build of a prototypical X receiver, as evidenced by his redshirt junior campaign at Tennessee. He was deployed almost exclusively on the boundary and took a major leap. The Volunteers made him the focal point of their passing attack, which proved to pay dividends.
Brazzell thrived despite being utilized mainly as a perimeter vertical threat this past season. He cracked the 1,000-yard mark for the first time (1,017) and finished tied for the SEC lead in receiving touchdowns (nine). His impressive outing at the Scouting Combine was the cherry on top of an already-strong résumé.
Zachariah Branch, Georgia
Branch is a very fast, undersized slot man who primarily catches passes near the line of scrimmage. Sound familiar, Big Blue Nation? His approach to the game and physical profile are eerily similar to Robinson's, who is now with the Titans.
A true monster with the ball in his hands, Branch's a short-area weapon with the skills and toughness to handle an expanded route tree eventually. He led the SEC in receptions last year (81) and finished fourth in the country in yards after the catch with 634 (h/t Pro Football Focus). Selecting him would almost be like a one-for-one replacement for Robinson.
Malachi Fields, Notre Dame
Fields might not be as flashy as some of the other guys on this list, though arguably no one is more physically imposing than him. He looked the part of a future pro-level starter in his lone season at Notre Dame while functioning in a run-first scoring unit.
Measuring in at 6-foot-4 and a half and 218 pounds, Fields is an outside receiver through and through. His knack for winning jump balls makes it feel like he's always open — even when smothered by a defender. We saw him average 17.5 yards per grab with the Fighting Irish, which was among the highest clips in college football last season.
Chris Bell, Louisville
This isn't the first time Bell will be identified as an option for the Giants, and it probably won't be the last. He was among the biggest names of the class before suffering a torn ACL last November and is reportedly "ahead of schedule" in his recovery. With that in mind, the reward of rolling the dice on him could prove to be far greater than the risk.
Bell showcased his pro-ready frame, strength and big-play ability at Louisville. He had a dominant three-game stretch in 2025 that saw him reel in 31 grabs for 441 yards and five scores. Barring any physical setbacks, the Mississippi native has the physicality and competitive toughness to be a difference-maker with the ball and in contested catch situations.
Skyler Bell, Connecticut
From one Bell to another, the UConn star has moved up the board throughout the evaluation process, and rightfully so. His blazing speed and explosiveness were apparent during the annual "Underwear Olympics." He posted a spectacular 9.66 Relative Athletic Score (RAS), which comes in at 136th out of 4,018 wideouts since 1987.
Bell transferred to UConn after a relatively quiet stint at Wisconsin from 2021 through 2023 and broke out with the Huskies. HIis17.2 yards per reception as a junior led the Independent ranks. He reached new heights as a fifth-year senior, leading the "conference" in catches (101), receiving yards (1,278) and touchdowns (13) and earning Consensus All-American honors.