To draft a wide receiver, or not to draft one, that’s the question the New York Giants have to answer when they’re on the clock at No. 5. Sitting with the fifth overall pick, there will be no shortage of options for the G-Men, who have several holes to fill even after a busy free agency.
They still need help on the defensive and offensive lines. The secondary could use an upgrade. And either Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles or Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love could be too good to pass up if they're still on the board when New York's name is called. However, none of that fixes the very real need for a No. 2 receiver opposite Malik Nabers.
And for those thinking Carnell Tate could be the answer, they might want to pump the brakes. Kristopher Knox didn’t exactly love that idea. In his breakdown of best and worst landing spots for top WR prospects, Big Blue was listed as the worst fit for the Ohio State star receiver:
"The New York Giants, meanwhile, would be a poor landing spot for Tate. While New York has a promising quarterback in Jaxson Dart, it already has a No. 1 receiver in Malik Nabers. Getting both receivers in what should be a run-heavy offense would be difficult."
Not everyone is sold on the Giants taking Carnell Tate with the fifth pick
I hear what Knox is saying. I really do. John Harbaugh is clearly trying to bring that smash-mouth identity with him, adding guys like Isaiah Likely and Patrick Ricard while bringing back Jermaine Eluemunor, Evan Neal, and Joshua Ezeudu.
But leaning all the way into a one-dimensional offense is asking for self-inflicted problems before the season even starts. Franchise quarterback Jaxson Dart needs more help than a fresh-off-a-torn-ACL Malik Nabers and a first-time-being-featured Isaiah Likely. New York added Calvin Austin and Darnell Mooney earlier in free agency, but neither feels like a true difference-maker in the passing game.
The thing is, Tate makes a lot of sense for what the Giants are missing. He’s a true boundary “X” receiver who can take pressure off Leek instead of forcing everything through him. Tate wins with strong hands, clean routes, and the ability to make plays in traffic. For a team still trying to figure out if Dart is the guy, having as many weapons as possible helps.
So, maybe ruling the receiver out at five isn't the move.
But if they do, the one thing working in Big Blue's favor is that the wideout class is deep. There's a chance they could get a WR2 on Day 2 like Tennessee's Chris Brazzell II, Louisville's Chris Bell, and Alabama's Germie Bernard.
At the end of the day, this isn’t really about Carnell Tate. It’s about whether the Giants are comfortable passing on one of the cleanest WR fits in the class because they’ve already decided what they want their offense to be. That’s a risky bet to make in today’s NFL.