3 offensive talents Patriots can target with No. 21 pick in 2022 NFL Draft
By Mike Luciano
If you were drawing up a receiver that’s perfect for what Belichick wants out of his offense, it would look a lot like Olave. Even though teammate Garrett Wilson is widely regarded as the best receiver in this class, Olave might have him beat in terms of his route-running and nose for the end zone.
Olave led the Buckeyes in touchdowns last season despite sharing targets with Wilson and projected 2023 top selection Jaxon Smith-Njigba. With soft hands and intuition post-snap, Olave seems like a safe bet. His floor is as high as any receiver in this class, and that could appeal to Belichick.
Chris Olave will start instantly for the New England Patriots.
Players like Arkansas’ Treylon Burks, USC’s Drake London, and Alabama’s Jameson Williams all have compelling cases in this spot as well. However, if New England wants someone who could make an impact right away, Olave might be the best choice.
The Patriots already know that Jones can lead this team to consistent wins, but they need to make sure that he has the proper infrastructure around him to make sure he doesn’t fall off of a cliff in his second season. Jones to Olave could be seared into the brains of rivals for a decade.