The 2026 NFL Draft is less than a week away, and prospects from all over are hoping to hear their names called, especially on Thursday night in the first round.Having the “first-round pick” tag next to your name in the NFL is a rite of passage.But those picks also come with high expectations. The player is expected to perform right away and do so with Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods along the way. It can be difficult for rookies trying to get acclimated to the speed and physicality of the NFL after college football.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMGreg Olsen, the three-time Pro Bowl tight end and FOX Sports NFL analyst, was once in that position as the 31st overall pick of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. And while he knows that each situation is different depending on the franchise the prospect lands with, the expectations are the same.Fans want to see you perform.So, how does one deal with that?NFL ROOKIES BROUGHT TO TEARS AFTER SURPRISE VIDEOS, SIGNED JERSEYS FROM TOM BRADY AND OTHER FOOTBALL LEGENDS”Handle your business, be a great teammate,” Olsen told Fox News Digital, while discussing how he’s taking his analyst duties to the next level with NFL IQ. “Earn the trust of your teammates, earn the trust of your coaches first and foremost. Because, at the end of the day, if you play well and the guys in that locker room believe in you and you continue to get opportunities, the fan support will come. As the team wins, and you play well, all of that takes care of itself.”Olsen recalled thinking the New York Jets or Carolina Panthers would take him in the first round after a successful career at Miami. But when the Jets traded up to nab first-ballot Hall of Famer Darrelle Revis and the Panthers later selected his Hurricanes teammate, linebacker Jon Beason, he didn’t know what to expect.That’s the beauty of the NFL Draft, though. The Bears took him despite Olsen not really interacting with their staff during the pre-draft process.In today’s NFL Draft world, Olsen understands the information these prospects have is much more vast. Fans have the same knowledge given the world of social media and how reports, mock drafts and expert analysis shape their understanding of how front offices think during this exciting time of the football season.With that comes a challenge Olsen knows he didn’t have to deal with as a rookie, but these first-round picks next week will have to weather that storm.”In today’s day and age where everyone is so worried about outside opinion, they’re so worried about articles being written and social media and what’s being posted, you could lose track of, ‘Well, while you’re worried about that, you’re not taking care of home base.’ I think it’s more challenging today than 20 years ago when I came into the league, but I think that’s something guys have to hunker down and understand it’s not easy. But you control you, and typically things fall into place,” Olsen said.Olsen added it w
Greg Olsen’s advice for NFL Draft first-round picks on handling high expectations
