March 28, 2024

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Eleven targets for the Commanders at pick No. 11: Chris Olave

In this series, Pete Hailey will preview 11 gamers whom the Commanders could pick out with the 11th all round choose in the future NFL Draft.

Upcoming up: Receiver Chris Olave.

Background: Will turn 22 in June… 6-foot, 187-pound pass-catcher… San Ysidro, California indigenous… Performed four yrs at Ohio State… 65 catches for 936 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2021… Concluded profession as the school’s all-time leader in touchdown receptions.

Greatest energy: There are fellas who simply just run rapidly and then guys who can basically use that speed to regularly deliver discipline-flipping catches. Olave firmly fits into the second classification for the reason that he does all the very little things nicely on prime of obtaining sub-4.4 velocity.

Now, what are some of individuals tiny points?

Scouting studies on Olave gush about how simply he gets off the line and speedily beats corners with his launch tactics. He is also praised for how perfectly he tracks the ball in the air and appreciates when he has to decide up the tempo or throttle down in buy to grab it in stride. And lastly, he frequently places his palms up for the catch just in time, which keeps trailing defensive backs from having a browse on when they should get theirs up, far too.

Over-all, Olave’s the type of concentrate on that NFL defenses will often have to keep track of, from the initially snap to the remaining one.

“You give him a crack and he is long gone,” Ohio Point out conquer author Monthly bill Rabinowitz advised the Washington Football Discuss podcast not long ago.

 

Most significant query mark: There is certainly loads of polish in Olave’s sport, but there isn’t really much energy. When a host of burners have succeeded as a pro without remaining bruisers, there is concern that Olave’s lack of physicality could be exploited by opponents.

Regardless of whether it is really in contested scenarios, tackle-breaking opportunities or run-blocking sequences, Olave can get bullied and outmatched. Of class, none of people factors subject all that much when he dusts a secondary for a 65-yard property contact, but they will be an problem when he’s struggling with larger corners or aiming to shake a safety with the ball in his fingers.

As Rabinowitz reported on the podcast, Olave is not a “just one-trick pony,” which means he will not just make a dwelling on go routes individuals are his specialty, guaranteed, but he’s also a nightmare on double moves and out-breaking patters toward the sideline. Nevertheless, he’s under no circumstances heading to overwhelm his person with his human body, which could result in him to be invisible at occasions on Sundays.

Opportunity fit in Washington: NFL.com’s player comparison for Chris Olave is Terry McLaurin, and if that proves to be correct, regardless of what staff lands Olave is heading to be very delighted — which include Terry McLaurin’s crew.

Nevertheless USC’s Drake London would introduce extra wide variety to the Commanders’ obtaining corps thanks to his 6-foot-4 frame and higher-pointing talents, Olave would provide as a further McLaurin-form risk due to his a lot more finesse technique. Not that there’s anything at all mistaken with that, by the way.

Having Olave at 11 may perhaps be considered as a slight reach by some, but he’d immediately step in throughout McLaurin and upcoming to Curtis Samuel to spherical out the offense and grow that unit’s explosiveness. He’d benefit from introducing a bit of muscle mass and toughness in Washington, but Washington would definitely advantage from his numerous techniques, a lot of of which are previously fairly made and experienced.

Random and likely eventually ineffective actuality which is becoming bundled in this story in any case: Olave after hauled in two scores and blocked a punt for the Buckeyes against rival Michigan. Many thanks to that single outing, it really is extremely feasible that he’ll under no circumstances have to get a drink, a meal, a tank of fuel or just about anything else well worth any sort of monetary benefit all over again in the condition of Ohio.

Earlier profiles: WR Treylon Burks | CB Trent McDuffie | S Kyle Hamilton | LB Devin Lloyd | WR Garrett Wilson | WR Drake London | CB Derek Stingley Jr.