There may not be an NFL team that is more aggressive in securing the specific players it wants in the NFL Draft than the New Orleans Saints. New Orleans has been routinely changing over the last few years, seeking to catch high-quality players to fill in the gaps in its list of top contributors.
In 2022, New Orleans did it again, changing twice in the first round to bring former Ohio state receiver Chris Olava 11th overall, and former Northern Iowa battled Trevor Penning with a 19th pick. When you hear the director of Saints College scouting Jeff Ireland in comparison to the professional players for these two players, you understand why they seemingly moved heaven and earth to get them.
For Olave, a 6-foot, 187-pound receiver who ran 40 yards in 4.39 seconds after scoring 163 catches at 2,505 yards and 32 touchdowns in his three seasons as a starter for the Buckeies, Ireland quoted the Hall of Fame as his entire spent his career in Indianapolis.
“I liked being a three-year beginner at a big university,” Ireland said The Advocate of Olave. “I liked that he was very productive in each of those years. I like that he is a great child. And I like the way the staff talks about him in terms of his intelligence. The fact that they could use it all over the field. The fact that he was consistent. Makeup is what we were looking for. Size. It has height and speed. We would like him to be a little stronger, and we have to give him a little strength and muscle, but every time you turn on the tape you would see Chris Olav playing in that game. And I like that. And so it reminds me of some of the players who played in our league, Marvin Harrisons, who were silky smooth and effortless. And the same body type. It doesn’t look like they ran fast, but when we turn on the clock, it’s like 4.3 (seconds). So, there are some really good aspects of that player. “
Harrison made eight Pro Bowls, three All-Pro first teams and five All-Pro second teams, led the league in receptions and receptions for yards twice, at one point had four consecutive seasons with at least 100 catches for 1,400 yards and 11 touchdowns, and is third all-time in double-digit reception seasons (eight) behind only Jerry Rice and Randy Moss (good per piece). If Olave is close to repeating what Harrison did in his career, the saints will be quite delighted with their choice.
Trevor Penning
NOIOVA • OT • 70
As for Penning, Ireland compared him to the former No. 1 in the overall selection.
“When I was in Miami, my first pick as general manager of the Dolphins was Jake Long. He was the first pick from Michigan. Jake weighed 6-7 and 325 (pounds). I remember the press conference after the draft, and I was, like, well, it’s technically a little bit wrong, and we have to improve it technically. I immediately heard, ‘Wait a minute, you just took him as the first pick in the draft.’ I mean, well, every player who comes to our league is technically wrong, even if he plays in Michigan. And in the end, he went on four consecutive Pro Bowls. I see that this guy (Penning) has the same technical flaws, but also who has the same abilities as someone like Jake Long. He just didn’t play in Michigan. “
Long was a four-time professional and twice a professional (one first team, one second team) who ended his career due to injury, but if Penning can get closer to that level of play, New Orleans will be quite thrilled to choose a successor to Terron Armstead in the attack. left side. Of course, as is the case with Olave, who lives by Harrison’s comparison, it’s easier said than done.