Baltimore, MD – July 8, 2025
He came to Baltimore with history in his hands — but time waits for no one, not even legends. DeAndre Hopkins signed a one-year deal with the Ravens this offseason, a move that felt more like a flicker than a fire. And now, whispers around the league suggest it may be his final act in purple and black.
According to NFL Spin Zone’s Sayre Bedinger, the Ravens could let Hopkins walk after 2025 and target Ohio State’s rising star Carnell Tate in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. It's not personal — it's business. And for Baltimore, business means getting younger, faster, and building long-term around Lamar Jackson.
“They already have Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman,” Bedinger writes, “but if the value is right, they might not be opposed to adding another. Carnell Tate could be the latest from the vaunted Ohio State Buckeyes program to get 1st-round love.”
And Tate is earning that love. After quietly producing 733 yards and 4 touchdowns as the No. 3 receiver behind Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka, the 6’3” route technician is now stepping into the spotlight. With Egbuka off to the NFL, Tate becomes the Buckeyes’ No. 2 man — and scouts are already circling Columbus.
He’s not flashy. He’s not freakishly fast. But he’s reliable. Disciplined. Smart. And if Baltimore has proven anything, it’s that they value players who do the dirty work right. Carnell Tate fits that mold.
Hopkins, meanwhile, still has a chance to carve out one last elite season. But if the speed fades or the separation isn’t there, the Ravens might already have eyes set on their next No. 1 — and this time, he’ll be 20 years old, hungry, and ready to grow with Lamar.
Stay tuned to ESPN — the future of Baltimore’s receiving corps may already be playing Saturdays in scarlet and gray.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70661098/1278833368.0.jpg "Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce lose two teammates as Kansas City Chiefs cut down roster")