Chris Olave And The Bucs
April 4th, 2022
Ohio State WR Chris Olave.
Joe thought this was an unbelievable read.
Regular readers here know one of the Joes is a college football nut — Saturdays from noon until the last PAC-12 After Dark game (or a BYU game) is over at 2 a.m.ish and Joe parked in front of his 69-inch HDTV. And the only time Joe gets off the leather couch is to get a cold Big Storm Brewing beer, or to take care of business.
Two years ago the receiver that blew Joe’s doors off was Chris Olave of Ohio State. Big, fast and the dude had no problem fighting defenders to haul in a contested pass. Solid footwork along the sidelines and along the end line in the end zone.
Joe thought the guy was the best in the nation.
Yesterday while reading a draft report in Warren Sharp’s “Sharp Football Analysis,” Joe noticed a nugget that the Bucs are highly interested in Olave. What!?
Sure enough, at Ohio State’s pro day, Olave told Dan Hope of Eleven Warriors, an Ohio State football site, that he has a team visit lined up with Tampa Bay.
This got Joe stoked. Olave is a rare, rare talent. And while Joe knows some folks like to drum up interest by suggesting the Bucs are talking to Prospect-X at the combine, well, every team talks to every player at the combine. Big deal! When teams are spending money to fly coaches to work out players in a private setting or dropping cash flying dudes in for interviews, that’s when it gets serious.
At Sharp Football Analysis, they like the idea of Olave replacing mental patient, quitting Antonio Brown.
The Buccaneers have conducted visits and/or workouts with Ohio State’s Chris Olave and Arkansas’s Treylon Burks, both of whom are expected to be first-round picks.
If Tampa is interested in finding someone to fill Antonio Brown’s role in the offense, Olave would be the better fit. Brown saw a team-high 23% of his targets at 20 or more yards downfield last season, according to TruMedia/PFF.
Though Burks was used downfield a fair amount, he primarily lined up in the slot for Arkansas. Meanwhile, Olave led Ohio State in targets on the deep ball, with 24% coming at least 20 yards downfield. Olave also demonstrated his ability to stretch the field with a 4.39 40-yard dash.
Now with the Bucs promoting defensive coordinator Todd Bowles to head coach, Joe has no idea if Bowles will put the brakes on drafting an offensive skills position player at No. 27. But man, you put Olave in the mix with Chris Godwin, Mike Evans and Russell Gage? Look the eff out, NFC.
Does Joe believe this will happen? No, but hey, a guy can dream, right?
April 4th, 2022 at 9:04 am
Need DT
April 4th, 2022 at 9:04 am
He reminds me of another former Ohio St. & Buccaneer Joey Galloway.
April 4th, 2022 at 9:09 am
No Thanks….We have needs elsewhere. Hoping DT Jordan Davis falls to us but I think he has a better chance of going in the top 15. If we lose out on Davis, I bet Licht will trade up in the second round to pick up DT Travis Jones.
April 4th, 2022 at 9:11 am
Pretty penny but is he helping the teams immediate needs?
April 4th, 2022 at 9:14 am
I can totally see them drafting this guy in the first despite what fans on this site keep saying it’s not about what we think they need or want them to do it’s what’s we believe the bucs will do and I could really see them drafting this guy.
April 4th, 2022 at 9:21 am
Todd Bowles is in a WIN NOW scenario. A rookie WR is not helping that cause. BUCS needs to load up on Defense.
April 4th, 2022 at 9:27 am
A juicy trade down candidate, no reflection on his ability more like the depth already on the roster at WR
April 4th, 2022 at 9:32 am
A nice tease for sure, but Bucs need to shore up the D line. Unless Zion somehow miraculously slips to 27.
April 4th, 2022 at 9:33 am
We could draft the best OG/C prospect in the country at the end of the first round!
Stinnie should be a backup again.
Draft the best OG/C and a sure fire starter!
April 4th, 2022 at 9:48 am
OG and DT.
April 4th, 2022 at 9:48 am
Even if Suh signs, we need a DT in round one. We need depth and youth in the DL.
April 4th, 2022 at 9:51 am
If you only had one word to describe this dude….it’s “smooth” all day
April 4th, 2022 at 9:54 am
I agree, we need defensive players, especially pass rushers.
IMHO, this guy would be a luxury pick.
April 4th, 2022 at 10:00 am
If Olave makes it to the Bucs pick he is probably the best player available, so I’m on board. Yes we have needs at DT/CB/LG, we also have more than 1 draft pick. At this point, I’d be surprised if Zion Johnson or a DT worth taking in the first, will even be available.
April 4th, 2022 at 10:01 am
No way this happens without the Bucs mortgaging draft picks to move up.
April 4th, 2022 at 10:02 am
Draft all defense please with the only exception being O-Line. This team needs defense and pass rush with the front 4!
April 4th, 2022 at 10:06 am
DT don’t cath TDs…
Godwin coming off a major knee rebuild.
Daden and Johnson are not legit NFL receivers (IMO).
Perriman, Miller and Grayson are injury prone.
If Olave or Burks is there at pick #27 you have to take one of them…
Our WR group is not as strong as some of you believe.
April 4th, 2022 at 10:11 am
Need 3 DT. Deep at WR already.
April 4th, 2022 at 10:19 am
I don’t care about another offensive weapon if our enemy can just do whatever they want on our defense nothing pisses me off more
April 4th, 2022 at 10:28 am
The defensive was top five in points allowed again I would not be surprised if they draft wr in the first round and resign gronk and suh.
April 4th, 2022 at 10:29 am
Olave wont make it past pick 19. LVD is getting long in the tooth. If you want to get excited about a linebacker to replace LVD , take a look at Devin Lloyd of Utah , his highlight film is intoxicating.
April 4th, 2022 at 10:36 am
I dream of large violent defensive linemen running into opposing QBs. A 1st round pick who is coming in to be our 4th receiver is not my dream.
April 4th, 2022 at 10:43 am
He won’t be available when we pick but if he is he must be the selection. I’m very good with winning games 59-41 on a regular basis.
April 4th, 2022 at 10:49 am
Olave is a great prospect….but needs are at DL and OG….even TE….Wr like it or not there is big time depth!!!!!
April 4th, 2022 at 10:56 am
Olave is TOO good though. I guess what I mean, is that Mike Evans and Godwin still have plenty of yrs left. Will he ever be more than a number 3 on Tampa? He may be PHYSICALLY a better prospect for all we know, but Godwin and Evans are Tampa Legacy guys. A receiver of Olave’s talent needs/wants to be a prototype number one like a Ja’Marr Chase. I HATE the mentality of drafting for need – thats what losers and loser teams do, but in a vacuum, it would make more sense to draft defensives line
April 4th, 2022 at 11:03 am
Marine – agree one THOUSAND percent. I think its highly possible that Russell Gage is just the beginning, I think the coaches are DONE with Johnson/Miller/Darden. Last yr was an absolute atrocity and indictment on our so-called depth. I’d also be for washing our hands of our so-called depth and replenishing with guys that can get open and dont trip over their feet. Resigning Perriman was also a good start as he is an order of magnitude better than Johnson/Darden/Miller.
April 4th, 2022 at 11:10 am
We was already going defense, then Bowles became head coach now we going defense the first 2 rounds book it
GoBucs!
April 4th, 2022 at 11:21 am
Why do people keep calling OG a need for us? We have guys there ready to compete for the LG job, and the staff seems to have confidence that Stinnie or Hainsey or maybe even Leverett will be a capable starter.
On offense, I would argue that TE is the only must-draft position this year, though I’d also expect a RB to be selected as well. I believe the emphasis on offense this year will be to get a little more balanced and really try to work the running game.
April 4th, 2022 at 11:28 am
We don’t need a WR.
April 4th, 2022 at 11:28 am
1) he’s gonna be loooong gone by 27. 2) we really need help on the defense, and unless we trade down, we only have six picks, four in the first four rounds, the other two being seventh rounders. Now I don’t think we’ve had much luck in rounds 5-7 (minus Scotty Miller off the top of my head), but that doesn’t seem like enough. 3) 69 inch TV?? Nice.
April 4th, 2022 at 11:29 am
This article is just plain SILLY 😂😂😂!!
No way Olave slips past either of the Green Bay Packers TWO 1st round pics both ahead of us, lol!!!
Packers now have ZERO Wide Receivers to throw to by your $50M a year QB.
He’ll be way gone by 27…
Besides, we need DEFENSE here now!!
April 4th, 2022 at 11:35 am
Don’t understand why we’re talking about drafting a WR when already have 3 studs getting $10 mil each, and a Cyril Grason in reserve. DT, MLB, and CB are the big needs on D. TE is getting slept on as a major position of need. Maybe a younger Whitehead replacement can be found for value, wouldn’t be surprised to see Isiah Spiller or another similar RB get scooped up if they’re still around at the right pick. If Olave is the best available pick at 27, we really should trade down to build up draft capital.
April 4th, 2022 at 11:45 am
It’s truly a weird and wonderful time in Bucs history when we have so much quality across our roster that people are even entertaining drafting a #4 receiver with our #1 pick.
But let’s get real, we’re not even 1-deep on the DL right now. We don’t have a quality backup for Lavonte or D. White. We could use a 3rd outside rusher from OLB. We don’t have a strong safety, and we only have 1 CB with more than 1 year left on contract. Needs ALL OVER the defense.
WR is so far down on our list of needs… Backup OT is higher need. And as I said before, TE and RB are greater need as well.
Olave or any receiver on day 1 or 2 would be a luxury pick we can’t really afford.
April 4th, 2022 at 11:46 am
D-LINE-D-LINE-D-LINE with the 1st pick…again we got great receivers now. Need someone to team with Vita Vea…even if Suh comes back we need to get younger on the D-Line….
April 4th, 2022 at 11:49 am
@Marine Bucs
You’re right about our receivers.
I’m hoping one of the Georgia DLINEMAN slip to us, or the DE out of Purdue.
If none of that happens, then BAP.
WR is extremely deep.
I love Olave, but I don’t think he makes it to us.
Check out the WR from Penn State.
This league is a passing league. WR has become even more important to the success of an offense.
April 4th, 2022 at 11:58 am
Unlikely but you never know in the draft. Good that the Bucs are doing their homework.
April 4th, 2022 at 12:01 pm
You signed Gage. You don’t draft a WR on the first rd to be your #4 WR. Go D in the first 2 rds.
April 4th, 2022 at 12:26 pm
Marine Is Spot on WhT he Said ☝️
April 4th, 2022 at 12:37 pm
Listen there not going to just draft a DT because it’s a need if it doesn’t aline with there draft board yea we need a DT but I’m not taking one in round 1 just to take one if the Top Guys are not there we don’t pick a DT I believe thTs why you are hearing about WR in round 1 to begin with Bucs prolly have the WRs higher on there board then DT I mean there’s what 2 that should go in 1st round The Georgia Boyz an maybe Jones from UConn but I bet they have more of a 2nd round grade on him an does he help the Pass Rush at all is he any different then SuH or Nacho Vita he’s a run stuffer Bucs are really good with that right now I get it need to get younger but don’t take one in 1st just to do it way better Value at WR I think Bucs try to trade back an pick up picks but then again do they wanna lose the 5th year option it’s going to be fun I’m down with who ever they pick Jason has proved that he knows what he’s doing #GoBucs
April 4th, 2022 at 1:02 pm
@ Belle
Agreed. If one of the top 2 IDL fall to us at #27 then I would be fine with that…
I don’t want to reach for any position group including WR.
But if Olave or Burks is there at #27 I don’t see how we pass on them.
April 4th, 2022 at 2:05 pm
dt,dt,te,cb, who cares after
April 4th, 2022 at 3:00 pm
Just like you dont draft a rb in round 1, you dont draft an OG/C in round 1 either! Did you see how easily the Bucs got a very good OG (shaq mason) by giving up only a 5th round pick? There is your answer as to why you just dont draft some positions in first round! First round should be about getting a player than can start for you immediately or have the athletic ability to become an all pro! Otherwise, there are plenty of guys in second/third round who you can draft to become solid starters down the road! Bucs are doing due diligence and likely bringing in a range of players they could target around 20+ on (remember, with the short Brady window, trading a second round pick next year to move up 5 or 7 spots in first round this year is very doable! Olave is right around the 20th slot window as is a few other WRs plus a couple of DEs. Olave would immediately be insurance for Godwin in case he is not ready to go game 1!
April 4th, 2022 at 5:52 pm
Ask your self this question:
If the Bengals draft Sewell at OT, instead of Jamar Chase at WR, do the Bengals make the Super Bowl?
The answer is no.
Now you understand how important the WR position has become in modern day football.
If Olave falls to #27 the Bucs have to take him. No question about it.
April 4th, 2022 at 6:08 pm
Brady gets what he wants…..if he wants Olave and for whatever reason he’s dropping past 20, then I see a trade up occurring. Godwin going down and AB going mental cost us. I had to think long and hard about it but I would be fine with it. What if CG gets hurt again….or ME goes down?
This would actually be a great insurance move, and great for the future.
He wont be there at 27 but good gosh if he is, He!! yes!!!!!!
We’ll work on the rest….
April 4th, 2022 at 6:24 pm
We would still have DT/DE Logan Hall…CB Alontae Taylor…and LG Ed Ingram for possible 2nd-3rd-and 4th picks
Then LB/special teams D’marco Jackson….then P Matt Araiza.
That would be a freaking haul if Jason could pull that off!!!!!
April 4th, 2022 at 6:32 pm
SOMEHOW SIGN DJ METCALF AND DRAFT DEFENSIVE PLAYERS