Name: Chris Olave
School: The Ohio State University
Year: Sr
Position: Wide Receiver
Measurables: 6’1”, 188 lbs.
Stats:
General Info:
Chris Olave was born in San Ysidro, California and grew up in the San Diego area. He attended Mission Hills High School and played basketball and track as well as football. A lifelong Oregon Ducks fan, he accepted a scholarship offer to play football for the Ohio State Buckeyes over other offers like Michigan and USC. Olave’s resume boasts two first team All-Big Ten awards as well as an AFCA first team All-American selection. His illustrious career landed him 1st in touchdowns, 3rd in receptions, and 5th in yards on Ohio State’s all-time receiving record books. Well respected by his teammates and coaches, Chris Olave was elected captain of the Ohio State Buckeyes for the 2021 football season. The wide receiver projects as a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Positional Skills:
Strengths
Chris Olave is one of the most fundamentally sound players in this year’s draft class. It is clear that both Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud trusted him during their time at quarterback. He knows how to use his body to his advantage and has a great feel for the position. Olave is a good route runner, frequently finding himself open to the tune of 175 career receptions. He often finds the soft spot in the zone as well, which is a skill quarterbacks appreciate. The wide receiver’s hands are a strong point as well. Drops were never a problem, and he is aggressive with his hands in contested-catch situations. Perhaps the most striking attribute from Olave’s film is his get-off. He synchronizes his get-off with the snap of the ball so effectively that often times it appears as if he has a head start. Chris Olave can play on the boundary and in the slot. This certainly will work in his favor at the next level, where versatility is becoming increasingly important.
Weaknesses
While he is certainly a good athlete, the physical side of Olave leaves some to be desired. He does not possess elite downhill speed that can take the top off of a defense like others in this class, such as his former teammate Jameson Williams. He also lacks the size that can overpower NFL defensive backs in press coverage. Olave has shown a capacity for run blocking, but there is room for improvement there as well.
Fit with the Packers:
Wide receiver is an obvious position of need for the Packers. As it stands today, their only wide receivers under contract for the 2022 season are Randall Cobb and Amari Rodgers (Cobb will likely be a cap casualty). However, using high draft capital on a wide receiver would be a change of pace for GM Brian Gutekunst, a disciple of Ted Thompson. As many in the media have pointed out, the Packers have not taken an offensive skilled position player in the first round during Aaron Rodgers’ tenure. For the last four years, Green Bay has struggled to find a reliable wideout to line up opposite Davante Adams. If Davante stays in Green Bay, Chris Olave could become that complimentary wide receiver immediately. If Davante Adams leaves Green Bay, the pro-ready player would be the team’s future at the wide receiver position.