New Odds Show Chances Of Packers Taking Chris Olave In NFL Draft

Kenneth Teape

April 5, 2022

It is widely believed that the Green Bay Packers are going to target a wide receiver in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. It isn’t something they have done throughout Aaron Rodgers’ tenure as the starting quarterback, but their hand has seemingly been forced this offseason.

Davante Adams, who is arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL, didn’t want to sign a long-term deal in Green Bay after having the franchise tag placed on him. As a result, he was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders for a first and second-round pick.

Adam wasn’t the only pass catcher that Green Bay lost this offseason. Their No. 2 receiver, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, departed in free agency, signing a three-year, $30 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.

That leaves Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb and Amari Rodgers atop the depth chart. That is something that has to change between now and Week 1, and the draft presents a great chance to do that. One of the players that the Packers could have their eyes on is Ohio State’s Chris Olave.

Olave is the odds on favorite to be selected by the Packers with the 22nd overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft according to Bookies.com. These are projected odds provided by the website, giving an educated guess as to what bookmakers may line official lines. In fact, they are so confident that a wide receiver will be picked, that only players at that position are lined.

Olave is listed at +300, followed by Penn State’s Jahan Dotson at +350. Jameson Williams out of Alabama is a close third at +375, but things open up after that. Treylon Burks out of Arkansas is fourth at +425 and Olave’s Buckeye teammate, Garrett Wilson is fifth at +425. Wilson has the longest odds because he is expected to be off the board before Green Bay comes on the clock. Rounding out the odds is The Field at +600.

Olave has drawn comparisons to another Ohio State product, Terry McLaurin. Out of all of the receivers in this year’s class, Olave may be the readiest to provide an immediate impact on the field. He has blazing speed, as he was a track star in high school, but is as refined of a route runner in this year’s class.

If Green Bay stays pat at No. 22, Olave would make a lot of sense as long as he drops to them. If the Packers want to get aggressive, they can also try and trade up for USC wideout London Drake, who has a chance to land inside the top-10.