New Orleans Saints' Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed disrespected by ESPN's latest rankings
On offense, the New Orleans Saints don't have the most exciting names in football. That being said, they have wideouts that have proven to be reliable and some veterans at tight end and running back to get the job done. Chris Olave has emerged as a great top WR option, and Rashid Shaheed is no […]
On offense, the New Orleans Saints don't have the most exciting names in football. That being said, they have wideouts that have proven to be reliable and some veterans at tight end and running back to get the job done. Chris Olave has emerged as a great top WR option, and Rashid Shaheed is no longer just a gadget player.
The Saints wide receivers caught some legitimate disrespect from ESPN recently, though.
ESPN ranks the Saints WR group 28th in the NFL
Saints wide receivers listed by ESPN (via USA TODAY)
- Chris Olave
- Rashid Shaheed
- Bub Means
- Cedrick Wilson
- A.T. Perry
The ranking is flat-out disrespectful. The Saints group isn't top ten in the NFL. Folks shouldn't argue that. That being said, some of the teams ranked ahead of them do not belong there. For example, the Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, and Arizona Cardinals are directly ahead of New Orleans.
Take a gander at those depth charts. They don't have the upside that the Saints possess at WR.
Teams like the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Commanders don't belong ahead of the Saints yet, either. Their WR rooms are just as unproven as the Saints' group when it comes to depth.
Chris Olave has proven to be a WR1 and consistent top 15-20 overall receiver in the league. Rashid Shaheed had his best offensive season of his career in 2023 and is the best returner in football. That top two beats out all of the top duos of teams I've mentioned already.
The depth is a question mark in New Orleans.
Everyone can admit that concept. A.T. Perry had flashes of impressive play in his rookie year, but he has to find consistency and improve. Bub Means is a big-body rookie they like, but he's a day three pick with plenty to show going forward. Cedrick Wilson was a veteran free agency addition that will simply provide depth and special teams experience.
Only time will tell if ESPN was correct with their rankings, but the Saints probably deserve to be a handful of sports higher on these WR rankings.
