Seattle Seahawks star Jaxon Smith-Njigba offered a public show of support for former Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate just before the 2026 NFL Draft, reposting a Buckeyes video and tagging Tate with the message, “Let’s get it @carnelltate.” The timing gives the post extra juice, with the draft set for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
HeavyJaxon Smith-Njigba had a strong message for Carnell Tate ahead of the NFL Draft.
On its own, the message is simple. But the video Smith-Njigba shared made the point louder. Ohio State framed Tate as the next name in its wide receiver pipeline, using a montage built around the Buckeyes’ recent run of NFL talent and the idea that another high-end pro target is about to enter the league. That makes this more than a routine social-media repost. It is a former Ohio State star, now the NFL’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year, effectively co-signing the next Buckeyes receiver headed to the draft.
Why Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s endorsement matters for Seahawks fans
Smith-Njigba is not just another former college teammate or alum tossing out encouragement. He is coming off a huge Seahawks season that ended with AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors after he posted 119 catches, 1,793 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. That kind of season changed how fans around the league view him, and it also raises the value of anything he says about wide receiver play.
So when Smith-Njigba publicly backs Tate right before draft night, it lands as a meaningful stamp of approval from one of the biggest receiver success stories to come out of Ohio State in recent years. For Seahawks fans, it also reinforces something they already know: Smith-Njigba is now one of the faces of the franchise, and his words carry weight beyond Seattle.
There is also an easy fan connection here. Seahawks followers watched Smith-Njigba develop from promising first-round pick into a top-tier NFL weapon. Seeing him now encourage the next Buckeyes star fits the broader story of his rise. He is no longer the young player trying to prove himself. He is the guy prospects are looking up to.
Ohio State’s video pushes the bigger Carnell Tate storyline
The Ohio State clip matters because it was not just about Tate in isolation. The video leaned into the Buckeyes’ recent history of producing high-level NFL receivers, the exact backdrop Tate is trying to enter as a first-round talent. That is the real story engine here. Ohio State is selling Tate as the next continuation of a pipeline that already includes names like Smith-Njigba, Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka.
That framing is important because Tate is already widely viewed as one of the top wideouts in the 2026 class. Multiple draft-focused reports this week have described him as one of the leading receiver prospects, with some placing him at or near the top of the board at his position.
In other words, Smith-Njigba was not hyping an under-the-radar player. He was amplifying a receiver who is already being discussed as Ohio State’s next big NFL export.
The Seahawks angle is bigger than a one-line Instagram message
Smith-Njigba’s message gives Seahawks fans another reminder of the stature he now holds around the sport. His voice matters because of what he just did in Seattle, and his connection to Tate adds another layer to the pre-draft conversation.
Tate is trying to enter the league with the same “Ohio State receiver” brand that helped produce Smith-Njigba. And Smith-Njigba, now at the top of the NFL receiver world, is essentially welcoming that next step in public.
That does not mean Seattle is connected to Tate as a draft destination. It means the Seahawks have one of the most influential young receivers in football, and he just used that platform to boost the next Buckeyes star ahead of one of the biggest nights of Tate’s career.
Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba Sends Carnell Tate Message Before Draft