Vikings

The Vikings Should Draft Chris Olave, If Only Because the Packers Want Him

Photo Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin O’Connell may be an offensive coach, but the Minnesota Vikings spent their offseason focusing on the defensive side of the ball. They brought in Harrison Phillips, Za’Darius Smith, and Chandon Sullivan and re-signed Patrick Peterson to another one-year extension. Given the overhaul on defense and O’Connell’s proclivities, it shouldn’t be a surprise if the Vikings use the 12th-overall pick to bolster their offense.

O’Connell’s last team, the Los Angeles Rams, has always been aggressive when it comes to stacking receiver talent. The Rams added Odell Beckham Jr. halfway through last season and drafted Tutu Atwell with their second-round pick. They joined Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, and Van Jefferson, who were already one of the best trios in the NFL.

Given O’Connell’s track record with this position, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them use pick No. 12 on a wide receiver. If they find themselves in this position, they should look to take potential Green Bay Packers draft target Chris Olave off the board.

At 6’1″ and 188 lbs., Olave has the size of an NFL receiver. He won’t be physically dominant like Drake London and Christian Watson with their ability to get up and high-point contested catches. However, he brings a much different skillset that the Vikings will benefit from.

Olave is one of the best route-runners in this year’s draft class and has the ability to create yards of separation. When you’re watching him play, you may find yourself wondering how he is so wide open almost every time he is targeted. It’s that he can run virtually any route in the book with extreme precision. It doesn’t matter if that route breaks towards the line of scrimmage, if he freezes the opposing quarterback with a double move to go vertical, or if he runs a deep crosser. His ability as a master route runner should make him an instant-impact player in the NFL.

https://twitter.com/BillyM_91/status/1167837951197421571

Olave’s ability to tactically run every route and set up defensive backs with some nifty footwork makes him a threat at all three levels. He can create separation at the stem of every route with his ability to speed up and hit another gear, leaving opposing corners in the dust. Olave is also a fan of playing pitch-and-catch when faced up against off coverage, something the Vikings did often last year when the defensive back played off of Justin Jefferson or Adam Thielen. He is also very good with the ball after the catch, winning foot races with opposing defenders with his speed alone. He showcased this speed at the combine when he ran an incredible 4.26 40-yard-dash.

Olave was a big play waiting to happen at Ohio State, averaging 15.5 yards per reception throughout his entire career. His ability to confuse defensive backs with double moves allows him to get a lot of separation down the field. If the Vikings were to draft Olave, he would serve as another deep threat with Jefferson, allowing Thielen and Irv Smith Jr. to work over the middle of the field.

While he is similar to Jefferson in terms of route-running and his ability to win at all three levels of the field consistently, he lacks the ability to go up and get the ball against other defensive backs. He can get behind a defender and track the ball over his shoulder, but he isn’t able to high-point the ball and survive collisions. Olave will need to improve his ability to make catches in traffic and keep the ball despite contact.

If Olave falls to the Vikings, they would add another talented wide receiver to a room that already has the likes of Thielen, Jefferson, and K.J. Osborn. They would be able to incorporate more 11-personnel, something that O’Connell notoriously loves to do. And with Olave in the mix, the Vikings can allow Thielen to take fewer snaps as he ages into a slot role.

The Vikings should also target Olave because the Packers are interested in him. Green Bay needs to revamp their receiver corps through the draft after trading away Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason. They will be attempting to get a big-play threat who can be an instant=impact player, and Olave fits that bill.

It would make sense for the Vikings to pick one of the best wide receivers in the class instead of facing him twice a year. The idea of sabotaging a team in the draft is nothing new. Last year the Carolina Panthers took wideout Terrace Marshall Jr. after catching wind of the New Orleans Saints’ interest in him. The Vikings could play spoiler to the Packers and derail their draft plans before they have a chance to enact them.

Vikings
Finalizing the Roster: New Signings, Contracts, and Draft Day Rumors
By Matt Johnson - Mar 28, 2024
Vikings
Did the Vikings Ultimately Come Out Ahead In Free Agency?
By Arif Hasan - Mar 28, 2024
Vikings

There's Joy To Be Found In This Tumultuous Transition Period In Vikings History

Photo Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Going into this offseason, we knew that the Minnesota Vikings would face several decisions that would significantly impact the franchise’s direction. They could re-sign the core of […]

Continue Reading