So what kind of player are the New Orleans Saints getting in Chris Olave? The team selected the Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver early in the 2022 NFL draft, trading up to acquire him with the No. 11 overall pick, so expectations are high. Fortunately, a variety of draft guides and scouting reports are in agreement on Olave — describing him as a readymade starter who can get open thanks to his refined routes and top-end speed. Here are what experts had to say about Olave prior to the 2022 draft:
Dane Brugler, The Athletic
STRENGTHS: Skilled at tracking and adjusting to the football, especially when he has the defender in a trail position … uses late, crafty hands to mask the arrival of throws … above-average route acceleration to eliminate cushions and create conflict for zone or off-coverage … wins early with his release package and has the
speed to be a legit deep threat … controlled, linear route angles and doesn’t drift … smooth body movements in and out of route breaks with minimal gear-down needed … remarkable along the sideline, dragging and toe-tapping like a dancer … always working back to the ball and keeping plays alive … played on punt coverage all four seasons (95 snaps) and had two blocked punts his first two seasons … humble by nature and considered the “big brother” in Ohio State’s talented wide receiver room (former Ohio State teammate Jameson Williams: “Chris is an excellent person … just the big bro to everybody.”) … led team in receiving touchdowns three consecutive seasons … leaves Columbus ranked third on the school’s all-time reception list (176) and fifth in receiving yards (2,711).
WEAKNESSES: Slender, lean-muscled body type … unimpressive build hinders success rate in contested situations … will brace for contact and doesn’t have the body strength to routinely break tackles … very average after the catch, and forced missed tackles were rare on his senior tape…
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