Greg Olsen's advice for NFL Draft first-round picks on handling high expectations

FOX Sports NFL analyst Greg Olsen, the 31st overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, shares his key advice for how first-round picks can deal with the high expectations that come with their position.

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.

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Broadcaster Greg Olsen before a game between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field in Seattle Sept. 7, 2025. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Greg 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?

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"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