How Chris Olave indirectly raised NFL Draft stock of Garrett Wilson

A pair of former Ohio State Buckeyes wide receivers are expected to hear their names called in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft in late April. With the NFL Combine now in the books, scouts and experts have more clarity on this year’s draft class. To ESPN’s Todd McShay, Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave indirectly helped Garrett Wilson establish himself as the top wideout in the 2022 draft class.

Out of the two, Olave was viewed as the speedier wideout coming out of Ohio State. But when Wilson ran a faster 40-yard dash than Olave did at the NFL Scouting Combine, it solidified Wilson’s status as the top wide receiver in this draft class for McShay.

“I’m so impressed with Wilson on tape, from his body control, his ability to stop on a dime, adjust, contort his body, make contested catches and then after the catch,” McShay said. “Now what really stood out to me is Chris Olave, his teammate, was supposed to be the burner, the track star.

“And we thought Garrett Wilson was going to run in the 4.4s. He ran a 4.38. Olave ran a 4.39. So to me, that kind of solidifies that he’s the best, the most NFL ready wide receiver in this class. I love Drake London (out of USC), he’s right there behind him. But Wilson, to me, is kind of locked in that spot as the number one receiver.”

Where Olave, Wilson fall in McShay’s latest mock draft

Both Wilson and Olave cracked the top 20 in McShay’s latest NFL mock draft, which he released following Russell Wilson’s trade from the Seattle Seahawks to the Denver Broncos. Wilson found himself in the top ten.

McShay projected Wilson as the seventh overall pick to the New York Giants. Olave went 19th overall to the Philadelphia Eagles.

In four years at Ohio State, Olave hauled in 175 receptions for 2,702 yards and 35 touchdowns. Wilson amassed 143 catches for 2,213 yards and 23 touchdowns in his three-year collegiate career, also adding a rushing touchdown. This past season, Olave had 70 receptions for 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Olave had 65 catches for 936 yards and 13 touchdowns.