2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Chris Olave

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Chris Olave, 6-1/188 Wide Receiver Ohio State

Chris Olave Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:

Excellent route-runner

Consittently generating separation and getting open quickly

Has twitch in and out of breaks

Sudden

Shifty

Easy speed

Can challenge defenses vertically

Fast; can burn cornerbacks over the top

Good recognition, feel

Dangerous runner after the catch

Threat to score and rip off long gains on any touch

Consistently creates separation

First-step quickness

Deep-threat receiver

Killer mentality; lethal player who can dominate defenses

Playmaker

Good athleticism

Experienced; ready to contribute quickly

Excelled against elite competition

Potential to be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL

Weaknesses:

Does not have great size

Thinner build

Could stand to add strength

Body catches some passes he could catch with his hands

Ability to hold up in the NFL?

Summary: Despite the Buckeyes having other good receiving talent with more experience on their 2019 roster, Olave because their most dynamic receiver playmaker that season as he totaled 849 yards and 12 touchdowns on 49 catches. He was a big-time point producer and the No. 1 receiver for Justin Fields. Olave looked like he was just getting started, because his 2019 numbers were a huge increase over his freshman year when he caught 12 passes for 197 yards with three scores.

The 2020 season was shortened to only seven games for Olave, but he played well while also dealing with some injuries. Olave recorded 50 receptions for 729 yards and seven touchdowns on the year. He had impressive outings against Penn State (7-120-2), Michigan State (10-139-1) and Clemson (6-132-2). In 2021, Olave recorded 65 catches for 936 yards and 13 touchdowns. He played well while splitting targets with Garrett Wilson. Olave helped Wilson produce a massive year, and Olave also set Ohio State’s career record for touchdown catches.

The modern NFL is driven by passing, so teams are always on the look out for receiving weapons who can help move the chains and produce big plays. Thus, there should be plenty of teams targeting Olave in the 2022 NFL Draft

Olave is very polished receiver, showing a well-rounded skill set with good technique. While he is not a burner like DeSean Jackson, Henry Ruggs, or Will Fuller, Olave is fast and can run by defensive backs. Olave also has the ability to challenge defenses over the top and is a threat to go vertical for a score on any reception.



Along with being fast, Olave is a smooth route-runner who does not take extra steps and glides through the secondary with easy speed. With his route-running and quickness, Olave is constantly generating separation to get open for his quarterback. He shows good recognition and feel for defenders to find soft spots in the secondary.

Olave displays superb body control along the sideline and the athleticism to adjust. His intelligence and polish show up in how he doesn’t quit on plays and is very good at breaking off routes to run to openings in order to help his scrambling quarterback.

Olave has a thinner build and does not have mismatch height or length for the next level. It would help him to get a little stronger for the NFL, provided he doesn’t lose speed from gaining more muscle mass to scrap with pro defensive backs. Olave also has a tendency to body catch some passes that he could attack with his hands. Staying healthy and avoiding injury is a concern after 2020, but that goes hand-in-hand with his build.

Olave looks like a future starter in the NFL with the versatility to be an outside receiver or line up in the slot. Early in his pro career, he could be a key contributor to a potent passing attack. Olave could be a high-end No. 2 or low end No. 1 receiver in the NFL. In the 2022 NFL Draft, Olave could be a mid- to late first-round pick, and he should not last long if he slips to Round 2.



Player Comparison: Chris Godwin Olave reminds me of Godwin with his speed, smooth route-running, and polish as a receiver. Olave, however, could stand to fill out his frame to be more like Godwin, who is about 20 pounds heavier. If Olave pans out, he could be a receiver similar to Godwin.

2022 NFL Draft Player Previews - Choose Player 2022 NFL Draft Player Previews - Home Adam Anderson, OLB, Georgia Calvin Austin, WR, Memphis Tyler Badie, RB, Missouri Amaré Barno, OLB, Virginia Tech Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson David Bell, WR, Purdue Nik Bonitto, OLB, Oklahoma Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas Zachary Carter, DE, Florida Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin Lewis Cine, S, Georgia Damone Clark, LB, LSU Micheal Clemons, DE, Texas A&M Bryan Cook, S, Cincinnati James Cook, RB, Georgia Yusuf Corker, S, Kentucky Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State Nick Cross, S, Maryland Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State Greg Dulcich, TE, UCLA Arnold Ebiketie, DE, Penn State Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida Ikem Ekwonu, OT, N.C. State Martin Emerson, CB, Mississippi State Kingsley Enagbare, DE, South Carolina Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota Luke Fortner, C, Kentucky Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner, CB, Cincinnati Luke Goedeke, G, Central Michigan Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State Logan Hall, DE, Houston Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame Christian Harris, LB, Alabama Daxton Hill, S, Michigan Chasen Hines, G, LSU Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan Ed Ingram, G, LSU Drake Jackson, DE, USC Jermaine Johnson, DE, Florida State Zion Johnson, G, Boston College Travis Jones, DT, Connecticut Kerby Joseph, S, Illinois Cam Jurgens, C, Nebraska George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue Darian Kinnard, OT, Kentucky Charlie Kolar, TE, Iowa State DeMarvin Leal, DT, Texas A&M Isaiah Likely, TE, Coastal Carolina Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah Drake London, WR, USC Abraham Lucas, OT, Washington State Boye Mafe, DE, Minnesota Phidarian Mathis, DT, Alabama Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington Verone McKinley, S, Oregon John Metchie, WR, Alabama Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming David Ojabo, DE, Michigan Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State Cade Otton, TE, Washington Evan Neal, OT, Alabama Josh Paschal, DE, Kentucky Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa Nick Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State George Pickens, WR, Georgia Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati Dameon Pierce, RB, Florida Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor Brock Purdy, QB, Iowa State Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati John Ridgeway, DT, Arkansas Brian Robinson, RB, Alabama Wan'Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State Jamaree Salyer, G, Georgia Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M Derek Stingley, CB, LSU Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon Cameron Thomas, DE, San Diego State Tyquan Thornton, WR, Baylor Kenneth Walker, RB, Michigan State Rasheed Walker, OT, Penn State Quay Walker, LB, Georgia Travon Walker, DE, Georgia Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State Zamir White, RB, Georgia Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama Malik Willis, QB, Liberty Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia Jalen Wydermyer, TE, Texas A&M

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