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NFL Analyst Ranks KC Concepcion Ahead of No. 4 Pick Carnell Tate Among Rookie Receivers
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- NFL Analyst Ranks KC Concepcion Ahead of No. 4 Pick Carnell Tate Among Rookie Receivers
KC Concepcion went 20 picks after Carnell Tate in April, and he's grading out ahead of him at midseason. The Cleveland Browns rookie ranks second among 12 rookie receivers with a 69.5 grade in PFF analyst Dalton Wasserman's first-round review , while Tate, the Titans' No. 4 overall pick, sits fifth at 66.5 .
Concepcion's Week 8 didn't help his case much. He caught three passes for 37 yards in the 27-6 loss in Pittsburgh , and his best play, a 24-yard catch up the seam, sparked the two-minute drill before halftime. It was his only first down of the day, and he finished with a 55.9 grade, according to PFF.
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KC Concepcion wins on the details Carnell Tate hasn't
Oct 11, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver KC Concepcion (1) is tackled by New York Jets safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (29) during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
Tate has the bigger raw numbers, with 413 yards on 51 targets to Concepcion's 352 on 45. The grade gap comes from everything around those totals. Concepcion has one drop and averages 5.6 yards after the catch on throws averaging 7.1 yards downfield, according to his PFF page . Tate has four drops and averages 3.2 yards after the catch on deeper targets.
Cleveland also uses Concepcion as a runner. He has nine carries for 34 yards and three forced missed tackles, and his 68.9 rushing grade ranks third among 19 receivers with enough carries to qualify. He has also handled five punt returns, so the Browns are finding ways to get him the ball beyond his routes.
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Neither rookie has been a touchdown machine. Concepcion is still looking for his first score, and the 33 catches he has are mostly underneath. That role could grow after Deshaun Watson was sacked eight times on Sunday, since quick throws are the fastest way to slow down a pass rush.
The target share won't open up through a trade, either. Jerry Jeudy isn't expected to be dealt before the Nov. 10 deadline with a playoff run in reach, and tight end Harold Fannin Jr. led the Browns with a 76.4 grade in Pittsburgh, according to PFF. Up next is a trip to New Orleans, where Concepcion will get another chance to turn a strong grade into the kind of stat line that matches it.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
