The Pittsburgh Steelers traded for Michael Pittman Jr. this offseason, upgrading at wide receiver. However, that doesn’t mean they’re done adding to that room. The Steelers could even still spend their first-round pick on a receiver. They’ve met with most of the top players at that position in the draft class. That includes Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, who played a season of college ball with Will Howard. It sounds like the two are still close, with Tate joking that Howard didn’t give him any advice for the pre-draft process because he wants the two to reunite.

“Will [Howard] ain’t give me no tips,” Tate said Wednesday via Eleven Warriors’ YouTube channel. “He’s gonna root for me to fall to Pittsburgh.”

Tate is viewed by many as the top receiver in this draft, so it feels unlikely that he’ll be available when the Steelers pick at 21. However, he might fall, or the Steelers could trade up for him. Tate would be a great addition to their team.

He spent three seasons at Ohio State, racking up 121 catches, 1,872 yards, and 14 touchdowns in that time. Tate looks like he could be a consistent and dependable NFL receiver, and he’d give the Steelers a different flavor of pass catcher compared to Metcalf and Pittman. He’s another big body, although he’s a solid route runner.

Tate and Howard were both key parts of Ohio State’s 2024 National Championship victory. Howard was the starting quarterback, and he threw for 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Meanwhile, Tate caught 52 passes for 733 yards and four touchdowns.

While they were only together for that single year, Tate still has nothing but good things to say about Howard.

“I’m happy for him. I wish him nothing but the best. I love that guy to death.”

Aaron Rodgers hasn’t returned to the Steelers yet, so Howard could get a shot at the starting job. While he was a sixth-round pick last year, Omar Khan and Mike McCarthy have said a lot of positive things about him. Perhaps if the Steelers are serious about Howard as their future under center, they’ll make a move to acquire Tate. He could be their future at the position, with Metcalf and Pittman both nearing 30.