NFL Draft Profile: Golden Tate

Golden Tate

WR|Notre Dame

5’11|195 lbs.

Golden Tate is without a doubt a home-run hitter. Fantastic on field speed, versatility, and great body control will propel him to the next level. While his size, hands, and release may be the factors to hold him back.

Tate’s blazing 40 time (4.42) seems even faster on field, as evident when watching game tape. He has fantastic acceleration and gets up to his top speed with ease.  His only issue in this department may be his lack of ability to separate from elite CBs. Fantastic agility and body control characterize his play, as he excels at jockeying for position while the ball is in the air. And his versatility gives him the ability to line-up in various positions on the field (like a Percy Harvin).

Tate’s route running may be subject (as he faces mixed opinions). While he has run a full route tree at Notre Dame, he still faces some criticism, mainly because of a hesitance to play up the middle. However Tate’s agility allows for a superb cutting ability in and out of his routes that makes up for this “soft” play.

While Tate didn’t have too many dropped passes, he’s still not a consistent catcher, something he will have to learn to correct in the pros. At 5’11 he rarely has the ability to come up with the “more difficult” receptions. And furthermore this size detriments his release.

Tate has the ability to succeed within this league, however he needs to improve on some of his fundamentals. Watching game tape, it’s hard not to think of a Percy Harvin, or to a lesser extent a Steve Smith (Carolina) so his potential is evident. Tate should be taken within the late 1st to middle 2nd round behind the likes of highly touted wide outs Dez Bryant, Arrelious Benn, and Demaryius Thomas.