Josh Pate broke out the "red Sharpie" to fully endorse Xavier Restrepo as the safest PPR play among 2025 rookie wideouts. Restrepo is Miami’s all‑time leading receiver after back‑to‑back 1,000‑yard seasons and drew a 30.4 % target share in 2024 despite the Hurricanes cycling three quarterbacks. Pate dismissed the Pro Day 40 time—run while nursing an injury—as irrelevant because Restrepo wins with route precision, reliability, and on‑field generalship rather than raw explosion. In multiple fall‑camp viewings, Pate saw Restrepo act like an on‑field OC, lining up teammates and demanding reps end correctly. For dynasty/Best Ball gamers, Pate expects an immediate Tyler Lockett‑style reception floor out of the slot, making Restrepo a priority second‑round rookie pick. Draft‑prop bettors fading speed‑score models can find plus‑money on him sneaking into Round 1.

Josh Pate labeled Dylan Sampson a steal if he slips past Day 2 because speed‑obsessed scouts are ignoring real football production. Sampson, the 2024 SEC Offensive Player of the Year with 22 rushing TDs, was "the engine" of Tennessee’s offense in a year the Vols leaned on defense and the ground game. Pate noted Sampson repeatedly took over contests in the deepest conference, even while competing with Boise State star Ashton Jeanty for national accolades. Although his straight‑line 40 time may top out in the mid‑4.5s, Sampson’s contact balance and short‑area burst translate to chain‑moving reliability—exactly what fantasy managers need. Pate trusts him for 17–18 carries plus goal‑line work right away and recommends dynasty drafters treat him as a top‑five rookie RB, while bettors can look at long‑shot Offensive Rookie of the Year odds before the market adjusts.

Josh Pate called Will Howard the classic "stash and cash" quarterback for Superflex dynasty leagues and long‑shot NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year tickets down the line. Pate emphasized Howard’s elite "neck‑up" traits—leadership, command of a locker room, and rapid processing—that do not show up in combine testing. Ohio State coaches "never wavered" on him even during rough outings such as the Michigan game, reinforcing the trust factor. Pate envisions a scenario where Howard sits for a season or two, then takes over after an injury and never relinquishes the job—comparing it to past mid‑round success stories. With a polished 6'4", 240‑pound frame and top‑10 adjusted completion rate on intermediate throws (per OSU analytics), Pate urged dynasty players to scoop him in the late second/early third of rookie drafts before the public realizes the long‑term upside.

Josh Pate endorsed Josh Simmons as the safest offensive‑line investment in the 2025 class. Simmons jumped from the G5 level to Ohio State, immediately solved the Buckeyes’ chronic left‑tackle hole, and the staff "sighed with relief" by mid‑spring because the measurables (6'6", 310 with 34" arms) translated right away. When Simmons missed time late in the year, OSU had to change its entire offensive approach, a before‑and‑after data point Pate called "all the validation you need." Daily practice reps against a defensive line loaded with future draft picks provided NFL‑ready seasoning. For bettors eyeing first‑offensive‑lineman markets or dynasty managers factoring O‑line strength into rookie QB/RB landing spots, Pate’s takeaway is that Simmons is a near lock to start Week 1 wherever he lands.

Josh Pate said Abdul Carter might be the single best player available in the 2025 NFL Draft and argued his dynasty/IDP upside is still being undersold. Carter only shifted to edge a year ago, yet already owns unanimous All‑American honors, the 2024 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award, and back‑to‑back first‑team All‑Big Ten seasons. Pate highlighted that Carter played through the playoff with a brace on one arm and was still a constant disruptor, underscoring a motor and toughness scouts crave. Inside the Penn State building, teammates "orbit around him," giving evaluators the intangible leadership boxes as well. Because he is not yet a finished product at the position—James Franklin originally recruited him as an edge before Carter insisted on linebacker—Pate believes there is another developmental leap coming once an NFL staff refines his hand usage and pass‑rush plan. If you are betting draft position or loading up early rookie picks in IDP dynasty formats, Pate’s message is clear: treat Carter as a blue‑chip asset with top‑five overall equity.