New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave now has something he’s never been blessed with to prove the NFL wrong
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave is one of the most talented pass-catchers in the NFL, and the league is only starting to take notice.
The New Orleans Saints have one of the most talented wide receivers in the NFL, and the league is only starting to take notice.
Chris Olave was one of 26 receivers to receive votes in ESPN’s annual top 10 wide receiver rankings, a survey of over 70 executives, coaches, and scouts conducted by NFL insider Jeremy Fowler. Olave did not crack the top 10 or the six honorable mentions.
There’s never been this much talent at wide receiver in the NFL. Everyone knows that. I know that. Despite the understandable logjam atop the position, Olave is a 3x 1,000-yard receiver who’s been dealt shoddy cards throughout the first four years of his career. Being excluded even from honorable mentions is an insult to his talent, but it’s no wonder why when considering the context of his last four years.
Chris Olave’s quarterback instability continues plaguing his perception
Olave has been one of the few constants in NOLA’s passing game since being drafted in 2022. The Saints wideout just posted his career-high in receiving yards (1,163) despite Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough splitting the year’s reps at quarterback.
Those are just two of the five quarterbacks Olave has played significant time with across four years in New Orleans. Derek Carr, Andy Dalton, and Jameis Winston round out the group.
That Olave has reached 1,000 yards in every season he’s played at least half the schedule is remarkable given the constant turnover at quarterback New Orleans has endured since Drew Brees’ retirement. Most of the receivers ranked ahead of him have benefited from far more stability under center. Olave has never had that luxury and has still produced at a high level.
Why 2026 is the year for Olave to ascend
Now that Shough is firmly established as the Saints’ quarterback, Olave has real continuity at the position for the first time in his career. This is the window for him to build on last season and push into the upper tier of NFL wideouts.
Olave can thank the timing of it all as well. He’s set to play on his fifth-year option, making this a contract year with massive implications. The wide receiver market has exploded, with the top contracts now exceeding $40 million per year. A strong 2026 campaign with a stabilized passing game could position Olave to sign one of the next landmark deals at the position.
Olave joined a group of vote-getters outside the top 16 that included Tee Higgins, Ladd McConkey, Terry McLaurin, DK Metcalf, Alec Pierce, DeVonta Smith, Brian Thomas Jr., Jalen Waddle, and Garrett Wilson. That collection of names alone illustrates how difficult it is to earn recognition at the position right now. Just receiving any votes for one of the 10 best receivers in the game is a feat in itself.
Breaking into that top 10 conversation requires more than talent. It requires conditions that have been beyond Olave’s control. With Shough settled in, and head coach Kellen Moore set to build off his first year, Olave can absolutely become louder in the top-10 conversation.