Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave are less than a week away from officially becoming NFL players.
The first round of the 2022 NFL draft will be held Thursday, and Wilson and Olave are just about certain to be among the players who hear their names called during the first 32 picks. Both of them will experience the moment in person in Las Vegas, where they’ll be greeted onstage by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and take pictures with their new teams’ jerseys on what’s sure to be a life-changing night for both of them.
What’s far less certain is which teams they’ll actually end up with. The 2022 NFL draft is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable drafts in recent history – partially due to the lack of elite quarterback prospects in this year’s class – which means you’ll find a vast array of varying mock draft projections even though draft day is rapidly approaching.
Predicting where Olave and Wilson will end up is made even tougher by the fact that the majority of NFL teams should have at least some interest in them. They’re arguably the top two wide receivers in the draft – though their former teammate Jameson Williams and USC’s Drake London are also in that conversation – and you can never have too many weapons in the passing game.
Some teams, though, have a bigger need at wide receiver or are more likely to draft one in the first round than others. With that in mind, we’ve identified the 11 teams that look like the most likely candidates to draft one of the two Buckeye pass-catchers.
Teams are listed in order of where they currently hold their first pick in this year’s draft, which does not necessarily correlate with which teams are most likely to select Wilson or Olave.
Houston Texans (#3 and #13)
The Texans aren’t likely to draft a wide receiver with the No. 3 overall pick – that selection is expected to be used on a pass-rusher, defensive back or offensive tackle. But the Texans also have the 13th overall selection, which they acquired from the Cleveland Browns in the Deshaun Watson trade, and they could certainly consider drafting Olave or Wilson if either is still on the board after the top 12 picks.
Texans head coach Lovie Smith and offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton got an up-close look at both receivers when they attended Ohio State’s pro day. Wilson is a Texas native, and they have reason to consider drafting a pass-catcher early. While they recently signed Brandin Cooks to a contract extension, he was the only Texan who had more than 446 receiving yards last season, so any receiver drafted by Houston in the first round would project to immediately become the Texans’ No. 2 wideout.
A top wide receiver like Olave or Wilson would probably prefer to be drafted by a team with a more established quarterback than Davis Mills. But if Mills struggles in his sophomore season, Houston will likely be in the market for one of the draft’s top quarterbacks in 2023, which could potentially set up a reunion with C.J. Stroud a year from now.
Lovie Smith got a close look at Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson at Ohio State’s pro day.
New York Jets (#4 and #10)
The Jets have two of the top 10 picks in this year’s draft, and they’ve shown serious interest in using one of those picks on a wide receiver, hosting all of the draft’s top four wide receivers – Olave, Wilson, London and Williams – for pre-draft visits at their team facility.
After selecting former BYU quarterback Zach Wilson with the No. 2 overall pick last year, the Jets are looking to get him a premier weapon this year. It’s likely the Jets will do that with the No. 10 overall pick, whether either Ohio State receiver could be an option, though a few mock drafts have had the Jets selecting Garrett Wilson at No. 4 (which would make him the highest-drafted Ohio State receiver ever).
Getting drafted by the Jets often comes with a negative stigma, and Zach Wilson had a shaky rookie season in 2021, but going to New York would present an opportunity for either Buckeye pass-catcher to play a starring role right away for an offense that needs a playmaker like one of them.
Atlanta Falcons (#8)
The most popular projected landing spot in the top 10 for either Ohio State receiver has been Wilson going with the No. 8 overall pick to the Falcons, who have a major need at wide receiver after losing their top two wide receivers from the past two seasons, Russell Gage and Calvin Ridley (who is technically still a Falcon but is suspended for the entire 2022 season).
Either Ohio State receiver could fit that bill, but Wilson is widely considered to be the more likely top-10 pick between the two, and his versatile ability to make plays in a wide variety of ways could be exactly what the Falcons need in a new No. 1 wideout.
Like Houston, Atlanta traded away its franchise quarterback this offseason, so the Falcons might not have the most receiver-friendly offense in 2022. Also like Houston, though, Atlanta will likely be in the market for one of the draft’s top quarterbacks in 2023, so the Falcons could theoretically target Stroud next year – setting up a reunion that both Stroud and Wilson have already said they hope will happen – if they take Wilson this year.
Hopefully that wasnt the last time, but just in case its been a pleasure @CJ7STROUD #Dots
— Garrett Wilson (@GarrettWilson_V) March 23, 2022
Washington Commanders (#11)
Drafting an Ohio State wide receiver worked out quite well for Washington when it took Terry McLaurin three years ago, and the Commanders have shown plenty of interest in drafting another one this year.
Washington head coach Ron Rivera and general manager Martin Mayhew both attended Ohio State’s pro day, and Rivera spent a considerable amount of time speaking with Ohio State wide receivers coach Brian Hartline during the pro day. The Commanders got an even closer look at both Olave and Wilson by hosting each of them for pre-draft visits earlier this month.
If the Commanders draft one of them with the No. 11 overall pick, they could have an all-Buckeye lineup of starting wide receivers in 2022 with either Wilson or Olave lining up opposite McLaurin and Curtis Samuel starting in the slot.
Chris Olave and Terry McLaurin could be reunited with the Washington Commanders.
Philadelphia Eagles (#15 and #18)
The Eagles are another team that holds two first-round draft picks and could be interested in using one of them – in their case, either one – on a wide receiver. Olave might be the more realistic target at either the 15th or 18th overall pick, but they’d have reason to covet either one if available in the middle of the first round.
Although the Eagles have already selected first-round wide receivers in each of the last two drafts, it’s still a position of need in Philadelphia, as Jalen Reagor’s first two NFL seasons have been a major disappointment. The Eagles could effectively replace him by drafting Wilson or Olave, who would pair with 2021 first-round pick DeVonta Smith in the Eagles’ receiving corps.
The Eagles are another team that hosted Olave for a pre-draft visit, and they’re also a team that could theoretically enter the Stroud sweepstakes next year – depending on how Jalen Hurts performs this year – as they’re also set to have two first-round picks in the 2023 NFL draft.
New Orleans Saints (#16 and #19)
| 1 | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| 2 | Detroit Lions |
| 3 | Houston Texans |
| 4 | New York Jets |
| 5 | New York Giants |
| 6 | Carolina Panthers |
| 7 | New York Giants |
| 8 | Atlanta Falcons |
| 9 | Seattle Seahawks |
| 10 | New York Jets |
| 11 | Washington Commanders |
| 12 | Minnesota Vikings |
| 13 | Houston Texans |
| 14 | Baltimore Ravens |
| 15 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 16 | New Orleans Saints |
| 17 | Los Angeles Chargers |
| 18 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 19 | New Orleans Saints |
| 20 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 21 | New England Patriots |
| 22 | Green Bay Packers |
| 23 | Arizona Cardinals |
| 24 | Dallas Cowboys |
| 25 | Buffalo Bills |
| 26 | Tennessee Titans |
| 27 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 28 | Green Bay Packers |
| 29 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 30 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 31 | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 32 | Detroit Lions |
If the Eagles pass on an Ohio State receiver with either of their two picks, the Saints – who actually acquired the No. 16 overall pick from the Eagles – could be ready to pounce behind them.
The Saints have had a great track record with drafting Buckeyes in recent years, and even if they expect Michael Thomas to return to form in 2022 after an injury-plagued 2020 season turned into missing all of 2021, they should still be looking for another weapon to pair with Thomas at wide receiver.
While it would be a surprise if Wilson falls out of the top 15 picks, Olave’s speed and ability to play the deep ball could make him a perfect complement to Thomas’ prowess as an intermediate receiver.
Los Angeles Chargers (#17)
The Chargers, whose first-round pick falls in between the Eagles’ and Saints’ two picks, would presumably be an appealing landing spot for Olave on multiple levels.
For one, it would be a return home to Southern California for Olave, who grew up near the Chargers’ former home of San Diego. Secondly, it would give him the opportunity to catch from the NFL’s most promising young quarterbacks, Justin Herbert.
The Chargers don’t need a receiver as badly as some of the other teams on this list, as they already have two premier wideouts in Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, but they didn’t have much production behind those two last year. Bringing in Olave as a deep threat could be exactly what they need to take what’s already one of the NFL’s best passing offenses to an even higher level.
New England Patriots (#21)
The Patriots aren’t as widely projected to draft a first-round wide receiver as they once were before they traded a third-round pick to the Miami Dolphins for DeVante Parker. But they’d still have to consider it if either Olave or Wilson was to fall out of the top 20.
After an impressive rookie season by Mac Jones, the Patriots should be looking to do whatever they can to help their young quarterback succeed, and giving him a more explosive playmaker in either Olave or Wilson to lead the receiving corps would go a long way.
The Patriots aren’t likely to trade up and both Ohio State receivers will probably be gone before they’re on the clock, but one of them going to New England would be a good fit for both sides if either of them happens to slide into the twenties.
Green Bay Packers (#22 and #28)
The 22nd overall pick might be the floor for the Ohio State wide receivers’ draft stock, as the Packers should jump at the opportunity to draft either one of them if they get the chance.
Green Bay acquired the No. 22 pick when it traded Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find any mock draft that doesn't have the Packers using at least one of their two first-round picks on a new wide receiver. While the Packers recently signed Sammy Watkins, they’ll still be looking to add another weapon for Aaron Rodgers after losing both Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
They’ll have to get lucky to land Olave or Wilson where they currently sit, but with two picks in both the first and second rounds, the Packers have the ammunition to trade up for one of the draft’s top wide receivers if they want one of them badly enough.
Dallas Cowboys (#24)
Landing one of the Buckeye receivers is a long shot for the Cowboys, who would likely need to trade up to land either Olave or Wilson and don’t have any extra draft picks beyond their own before the fifth round. But Jerry Jones is known for making aggressive and splashy moves on draft night, and the Cowboys have reason to target a wide receiver after losing Amari Cooper.
Wilson grew up just a few hours away from Dallas in Austin, Texas, and Olave – who the Cowboys hosted for a pre-draft visit – has a comparable skill set to Cooper. Either one of them could pair with CeeDee Lamb in the Cowboys’ receiving corps to help ensure Dallas – which led the NFL in both points and yards last season – continues to have one of the league’s most dangerous offenses.
Most mock drafts have the Cowboys staying put at the 24th pick and drafting an offensive lineman, but it’s easy to envision Jones being enticed to make a move for one of the Ohio State receivers if either of them stays on the board long enough to make it a realistic possibility.
Kansas City Chiefs (#29 and #30)
Like the Packers, the Chiefs have two first-round picks and two second-round picks after trading away their star receiver – in their case, Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins – and it’s anticipated they’ll use one of those two first-round picks to draft a new receiver.
As 28 players will be selected before the two first-round picks the Chiefs currently hold, they’ll almost certainly have to trade up to have any chance at landing one of the two Ohio State wideouts. But with two picks in each of the draft’s first four rounds, they could realistically make a big move up the board for one of the top receivers if they want to.
Olave would be a logical choice to replace the speedy Hill, and any receiver would likely be thrilled at the prospect of playing for a championship contender while catching passes from Patrick Mahomes.
