Auden Tate, Florida State: 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report
By Jon Dove
Florida State’s Auden Tate is a big-bodied receiver who has a knack for making some acrobatic catches while in traffic.
Auden Tate features a long frame and solid build for the wide receiver position. He knows how to use his size to his advantage. Tate is able to routinely make catches in contested situations. It’s a combination of his size, strong hands, leaping ability and toughness that allows him to get the job done.
He features excellent hands and always plucks the ball away from his frame. Tate’s focus and strong hands make him a very reliable target. It also helps him make some very difficult catches.
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He has a knack for hanging onto the football despite contorting his body in different direction. There plenty of occasions where he hands and body control meant the deference between a catch or a drop. A lot of these situations have occurred in the redzone.
Tate flashes the ability to run solid routes and work his way back to the quarterback. However, he does struggle to consistently create separation. Tate doesn’t jump off the screen as an explosive athlete. His height makes him more of a long strider.
This is the biggest question mark surrounding his game. Tate’s 40-time numbers will have a major impact on his draft stock. He needs to run a good time if he hopes to come off the board early in the 1st round.
However, Tate is still a strong prospect based on his size and catch radius. There are plenty of NFL receivers who overcome a lack of great top-end speed with their size. The fact that Tate shows he can consistently out battle defensive backs works in his favor.
It also helps that he plays an all around physical game. He’s someone who is a major asset in the run game where he fights to drive defenders off the ball. This is the same type of physicality that shows up when he’s battling for a jump ball.