Waldman's #1 receiver: elite route timing separates Tate early in NFL

Matt Waldman ranks Tate as his #1 receiver prospect, emphasizing his advanced route-running nuance and timing that separates top NFL prospects from peers. Tate's moves possess timing and gravity that allow defenders to register and react to his cuts; his setups allow moves to 'breathe' long enough for defenders to react, unlike prospects who move too suddenly. Waldman projects Tate as an actual talent right away in the NFL, not just a prospect, and notes his timing and pacing of setups will separate him early in his career. Beyond big-play threat potential, Tate is developing into a strong runner of timing and intermediate routes—go-to target routes at vital points of drives where defenses deploy their best cover defenders. Compared to Jordan Tyson as a route runner, Tate is further along in the nuanced aspects of route running that separate top NFL receivers from top prospects.