Chris Olave 2022 NFL Draft Profile

The 2022 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Chris Olave 2022 NFL Draft Profile.

Chris Olave Background

Position: Wide Receiver

Size: 6-foot-1, 189 pounds

Class: Senior

2021 stats: 65 receptions, 936 receiving yards, 13 touchdown catches, 14.4 yards per catch

Olave could’ve been in the 2021 NFL Draft, but decided to return to Ohio State for one more season. He is now one of the better receivers in the 2022 NFL Draft.

As a prospect, Olave was rated four stars out of California and chose to move across the country to go to Ohio State. He saw limited playing time as a freshman and finished with 12 receptions for 197 yards and three touchdowns. His role increased in his second season on campus, as he totaled 48 receptions for 840 yards and 12 touchdowns. His play helped Ohio State make the College Football Playoff that season. He returned and posted 50 receptions for 729 yards and seven touchdowns in a COVID-shortened season. The Buckeyes made it all the way to the National Championship Game following the 2020 season with help from Olave. Olave decided to forego the 2021 NFL Draft and return for the 2021 college football season. He finished his senior season with 65 receptions for 936 yards and 13 touchdowns. Ohio State went 10-2 with a win in the Rose Bowl to end the year, although Olave didn’t play in the bowl game.

After the regular season, Olave declared for the NFL Draft. He is currently projected to be a first or second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Chris Olave Strengths

Olave has plenty of speed to work with. He is quick at the line of scrimmage and gets to top speed very quickly. His speed helps him get separation from defensive backs and also helps him run after the catch well. He is one of the faster wide receivers in the class and that speed shows up on tape.

For a few reasons, Olave is a big-play threat. He has the speed to beat defenses deep and can track deep balls well. Olave can take the top off a defense, but also can run after the catch at a decent rate. Although he doesn’t make defenders miss with regularity, he uses his speed and vision in the open field to take whatever yards are available.

He runs solid routes. Olave is aided by the fact that he is so fast, but he is so smooth and quick as well. He can find soft spots in the zone and creates separation well against man coverage. Olave could sell his routes more and change his speeds a bit more often, but he runs solid routes.

Chris Olave Weaknesses

Olave will need to add strength to his frame. He is just 189 pounds at 6-foo-1, which leaves some room to add strength. Until he adds strength, he could struggle with bigger and physical corners in press coverage. The strength will also make him harder to tackle and should help him in contested catch situations.

His hands are normally pretty sure and he can make some highlight-reel catches, but there are instances where he could show better hands. Olave isn’t someone who will win a lot of contested catches and thrives off creating separation. He can get open over the middle, but needs to show stronger hands to hold on to the ball.

He is not a great run blocker. Olave will improve with added strength, but he needs to show better effort and technique when blocking. This isn’t the biggest deal for a wide receiver, but if he can improve, he will help spring big plays when running backs run to his side.

Projected Draft Range: First Round Pick-Second Round Pick

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