Auden Tate is a huge possession WR and a true red zone threat

Auden Tate, WR
School: Florida State | Conference: ACC
College Experience: Junior | Age: 20
Height / Weight: 6-5 / 225 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 2nd Round or 3rd Round
NFL Comparison: Mike Evans

College Statistics

Player Overview

Auden Tate has been through some ups and downs while at Florida State. The Tampa, Florida native committed to FSU when they were still one of the top teams in the country. His freshman season he primarily played special teams. His sophomore season he entered the starting lineup and was a big red zone threat for then freshman QB Deondre Francois. This past season Francois was injured during the first game and true freshman James Blackman answered the call at QB all season. Tate has played with rocky QB his entire college career and has made the best of his. The stat sheet might not blow you away but his skills on the field are evident. Tate is a huge receiver that ran a good variety of routes at Florida State. He has good hands and uses his size and strength to make tough catches and fight for more yardage. Tate is particularly dangerous in the red zone and excelled at scoring in that area in college. Tate’s long speed and burst will be questioned but I don't put as much value on it as a normally would if you use this kid in the right role. A tough sure-handed WR that can get you the tough yards and score a lot of touchdowns for you if you get it to him in the red zone. Tate is one of the more interesting prospects in a draft that doesn't have a very deep WR class.

Strengths

• Excellent size, strength, and athleticism. Uses his body to box out defenders and can go up and get it. Competes at the catch point.
• Tough and physical. Uses strength after the catch to get more yards and will dish out some punishment of his own. Also surprisingly fluid for a guy his size.
• Sure-handed and a natural catches that uses his hands not his body to reel in the ball. I didn’t see many self-inflicted wounds (drops) by and large if you throw it to him on target he will catch it.
• Ran a variety of routes at Florida State (I noticed fly, corner, post, curl, and slant specifically) and looks to be pretty decent in this area.

Weaknesses

• Long speed and quickness will be a question. Not a dynamic athlete will be limited to possession/red zone threat role in NFL.
• Played this year with foot and shoulder injuries - these may need to be monitored.
• Gets in the way downfield more than he is an engaging blocker for his teammates.

Let’s see his work:

More Auden Tate videos

How He Would Fit On The Redskins

Let’s get Alex Smith a sure-handed red zone threat that has the potential to become a solid #2 possession type receiver. With the pieces they currently have the Redskins could help solidify their receiving core in two ways. The first method, one they arguably tried, last year is to find another big body guy who can out muscle, outrun, and out catches his defenders. This guy ideally can work underneath as well and get YAC after tough short catches. The second method is to pair a speedster opposite of Josh Doctson who can stretch the field and relieve the pressure off of Doctson, Crowder, and anyone else who make be working underneath. Tate obviously fits the first method and I think having another big target who can work upfield after the catch will benefit Smith. Smith is coming into a less than ideal situation the team should do him a solid and get his some solid weapons through the draft.