4 receivers that would pair nicely with Justin Jefferson in 2022

Chris Olave (Ohio State)

Looking at the draft, there are always immediate-impact weapons at all three stages of the draft. For this piece, that will be the goal: to find a talented wide receiver in the early, middle, and late stages of the draft that can help Justin Jefferson in the long term.

Up first is Chris Olave, one of the most storied wide receivers in the history of the Ohio State Buckeyes and a player that should hear his name in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Olave shined at Ohio State as a field stretcher and intermediate target for Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud.

Justin Jefferson is as good as they come in terms of intermediate success and stretching the field both vertically and horizontally in the passing game. The majority of his chunk gains come from crossing routes that set him free down the field and he took full advantage of that in 2021.

Adding a player like Chris Olave to the mix will give defenses nightmares. He can make an impact in the screen game, too, which is an area that Jefferson is not as dynamic at just yet. Minnesota will get the ball to Jefferson on quick screens to get him touches but he does not have the YAC ability of a guy like Olave.

Chris Olave is also incredible at getting vertical and making plays down the field. Defenses cannot afford to leave him one-on-one on the outside because he will make them pay with long tosses down the sideline or as another crossing option next to Jefferson.

Spending another first-round pick on a wide receiver may not seem like the best idea for Minnesota given the holes they have elsewhere but it is something that should at least get some consideration. K.J. Osborn was a fun player in 2021 and his growth is worth monitoring but he is far from a WR2 in the NFL.

Going all-in on the offense and taking Chris Olave with the 12th overall pick would be an exciting jolt of energy for this team, regardless of the fact that there may be better picks out there.