Carnell Tate might not be the slam-dunk Giants pick he’s being made out to be

The 2026 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and it’s anyone’s guess what the New York Giants are going to do at No. 5. But as we get closer, it’s officially Clue SZN -- where every meeting, comment, and random bit of pre-draft noise gets picked apart and spun into a theory about which way they’re leaning.

I even brought the magnifying glass and fedora.

Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate figures to be one of the favorites to hear his name called when the G-Men are on the clock. He’s a buttery smooth route runner whose size makes him the perfect boundary weapon opposite Malik Nabers, and his separation skills could simultaneously make him Jaxson Dart’s next best friend.

But what if I told you that Big Blue's pre-draft moves and John Harbaugh's previous draft trends might put a Division III-sized wrench into the Tate-to-New York buzz?

Ohio State's Sonny Styles could give Harby the linebacker fix he's always seemed to need to scratch, while other Buckeye defender Caleb Downs would fit his recent trend of taking a defensive back in the first round (three of his last four picks in Baltimore were a DB). But the most telling sign might be their recent meeting with record-setting DIII standout Robby Ballentine, as reported by KPRC 2 Houston's Aaron Wilson:

Robby Ballentine might be ultimate wild card in Giants' draft plans

You can't spell Ballentine without "ball," which is exactly what the Crown Point, Indiana native did throughout his four seasons at DePauw.

All he did was finish his career with 253 receptions for 3,783 yards and 54 touchdowns. All three are conference records, and the 54 scores are tied for the most by any active player across all levels of college football. There will be haters who will point to worse competition coming from a lower division, but the 6-foot, 200-pounder didn't throw up 324 points by being bad at football.

New York did bring in Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III earlier this offseason, but those are short-term moves. Outside of Leek, there isn’t much locked in beyond this year, and that’s still something that can't be ignored. The only difference is they don’t have to force it at No. 5 if they don't want to.

The incoming receiver class has enough depth where they can select someone else in the first round and draft a wideout later, whether that’s someone from a classic football factory or someone more like Ballentine.

So while Tate is a name that'll continue to be thrown around, Big Blue has options. There are other paths here, especially with three sixth-round picks, and the Giants have enough flexibility to take this in a few different directions. Their need to surround Dart with as much talent as humanly possible makes an unlikely story like Ballentine's one to watch come draft weekend.