New Orleans Saints trade up to select Ohio State receiver Chris Olave in 2022 NFL Draft
Wide receiver Chris Olave had a record-breaking career with the Ohio State Buckeyes. Now, Olave’s name has been called in the 2022 NFL Draft, with the former Buckeyes star being selected with the No. 11 overall pick by the New Orleans Saints, who traded with the Washington Commanders to get him.
The Commanders acquire the Saints’ No. 16 overall pick, as well as a third-round and fourth-round pick from New Orleans as part of the trade.
The San Marcos, Cali. native was rated four-stars according to the On3 Consensus. Olave was ranked as the No. 68 wide receiver and the No. 338 player in the country in the 2018 recruiting class.
Olave’s collegiate career began in 2018, where he played in seven games with 12 receptions, 197 yards and three touchdowns. In 2019, he upped his production to 48 receptions for 840 yards and 12 touchdowns. During the 2020 season, Olave caught 50 passes for 729 yards and seven touchdowns. This past season, Olave had his best year yeet with 65 receptions for 936 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Overall, Olave caught 35 touchdown passes in his Ohio State career, setting a new Buckeyes record for career touchdowns. Olave continued to impress at the NFL Scouting Combine, posting one of the fastest 40-yard dash times among all wide receivers there.
What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Chris Olave
Ahead of draft weekend, NFL analyst Lance Zierlein broke down Olave’s game and evaluated his status as a prospect in this year’s class. When looking at Olave, Zierlein gave him a familiar NFL comparison in fellow Ohio State wideout Terry McLaurin, who has been one of the NFL’s top wideouts since entering the league with the Washington Commanders.
“The quiet storm of the Ohio State wide receiver corps, Olave is smooth, steady and makes things happen,” Zierlein said. “His movements are fluid and easy from snap to the catch and all points between. He’s fast but efficient and plays with the bend and foot agility to uncover on all three levels. Olave possesses natural, well-rounded ball skills but needs to add play strength to ward off the physical challenges that are headed his way.
“His play traits should allow for success beyond the scheme and talent advantages surrounding him at Ohio State. He is an inside/outside hybrid appealing to offenses looking for a field-stretcher with the ability to take on a sizable catch load.”