Christian McCaffrey’s importance in the 49ers’ offense has increased following their defeat against Arizona. Meanwhile, the Texans secured a victory over the Bills on the line of scrimmage, and Lamar Jackson delivered one of his best performances in the NFL, leading the Ravens to a win over the Bengals.
Chris Olave, of Cuban descent, has made significant strides since joining the NFL in 2022 and has now established himself as the number one receiver for the New Orleans Saints.
METAIRIE, Louisiana – Chris Olave was not initially aware of what it truly meant to be a number one receiver. He knew how to make crucial plays and accumulate statistics, recording consecutive seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards for the New Orleans Saints in his first two years. However, he spent those years overshadowed by veteran Michael Thomas, the NFC Offensive Player of the Year in 2019, who has faced injuries in his last four seasons.
Olave relied on Thomas’s experience during the early days of his career, but after the veteran’s release in March, it became clear that the team would heavily depend on Olave moving forward. Now at 24 and in the midst of his third season—a year without Thomas—Olave is eager to gain trust in all areas of his game.
He spent the offseason addressing his weaknesses, aiming to evolve into a true number one receiver. He worked on becoming a more durable and reliable blocker, strengthening himself in the weight room and reviewing tape of his blocking to identify improvement areas. He admitted feeling “weak” in this aspect.
“I just want to be a receiver for every attempt,” Olave stated. “In my early years, I found myself missing on running plays, which made it obvious that I would be running. I want to change that. Even on running plays, I want them to trust me to make blocks. Just take the next step in my game.”
The Saints (2-2) will aim for big plays from Olave as they seek to end a two-game losing streak against the Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) on Monday night.
“When Mike was here… it was about Chris transitioning into getting number one targets and all that kind of stuff. It was different,” said quarterback Derek Carr during training camp. “But coming into this year, he knows. In his mind, every ball is his. He should feel on every called play that, ‘I’m going to get that thing.’”
Olave showcased his ability to make big receptions with just over two minutes left in the Week 3 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. He sprinted through the corner of the end zone, executed a stutter-step, and dragged his toes to secure a touchdown, giving the Saints the lead before the Eagles came back to win in the final minute.
These were the moments Olave envisioned when he was selected 11th overall in the 2022 draft from Ohio State. However, he didn’t think much further than that when he entered the league at 21 years old.
“That was me at first,” Olave reflected. “I thought it was just about being able to catch passes, score touchdowns.”
Signs have emerged that Olave is indeed making a leap. He caught a season-high eight passes for 87 yards and converted two late third-downs, giving the Saints a chance in a narrow 26-24 defeat to the Atlanta Falcons last week. Leading the team with 20 receptions for 265 yards and a touchdown, he sees these types of performances as “the standard” from his time as a Buckeye.
His new standard also incorporates what he displayed against the Falcons: a block that allowed running back Alvin Kamara to gain seven yards and a contested reception of 33 yards that was nullified due to a teammate’s penalty.
Olave achieved all of this while playing 58 snaps with a hamstring injury.
“There are no moral victories, but that is certainly a positive for us going forward,” Carr said following the loss. “His determination and toughness are what we need from our number one, and he gave us that.”
Chris Olave has recorded 20 receptions for 265 yards and one touchdown leading up to the team’s Monday Night Football game against the Chiefs.
Olave was not focused on blocking during the 26-9 defeat against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4 of last season. Instead, he expressed frustration after catching a four-yard pass. He noted that several teammates took him aside to correct his attitude and provide guidance.
“Older players tell me it’s natural to have bad games,” Olave said this summer. “But the fact that I hold myself to a high standard makes it challenging. Letting it go and bouncing back for the next game is something I learned last year.”
Olave admitted to having the wrong approach, yet that did not solve the issues throughout the season. Carr and Saints head coach Dennis Allen publicly criticized him three weeks later for the routes he ran against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Carr was caught on camera shouting at Olave during the broadcast, and Allen mentioned the following week that Olave had not finished his route. Shortly after that game, Olave was arrested on suspicion of reckless driving.
“I feel like we were in sync during the first two games of the year and then hit a slight bump,” Olave acknowledged. “I believe we were in sync during the last five games, but last season was inconsistent.”
He had three games with over 100 receiving yards in the last six games of the previous season. Carr mentioned that he thought they finally synchronized during the Week 13 loss against the Detroit Lions when Olave improvised his route as if he understood exactly what Carr was thinking.
“As I was throwing the ball, he started to sit down [in the route], I threw it into the window, he caught it and split for about 20 yards,” Carr recalled. “I thought, ‘Wow, this could get really fun.’ The fact that he saw it the same way I did is something that receivers struggle with.”
Olave previously became wrapped up thinking about being the number one receiver and trying to catch every pass. Now, he feels that both he and teammate Rashid Shaheed, with 15 receptions for 252 yards and two touchdowns, share the title of number one. As they head into Week 5, Olave ranks 15th in receiving yards, while Shaheed is tied for 16th.
“It was a growth experience. I was young,” Olave admitted. “Not everything will go perfectly for me, but as long as we win, I’m doing my job. That’s all I can control.”
When Olave caught two passes against the Carolina Panthers in the season opener, he showed no signs of frustration, marking a shift in his mindset from the end of the previous season.
“People don’t stay the same,” said wide receiver coach Keith Williams. “He focused on growth in that area, and he has grown. He remained steadfast, enthusiastic about the plan for everyone else. He was excited about how he blocks.”
“I just want to be a receiver for every attempt,” Olave reiterated, emphasizing his commitment.
Olave decided to “reprogram” his mentality at the beginning of the 2024 offseason after the Saints hired offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
Kubiak’s offensive scheme includes more blocking responsibilities for wide receivers to mask offensive tendencies against opposing defenses. Olave recognized that blocking was one of his major weaknesses because he was not accustomed to it.
“I’m used to catching the ball, carrying the ball, scoring touchdowns,” Olave explained earlier this summer. “But that hasn’t really worked for us in terms of winning over the past two years.”
The scheme focuses on establishing the run, with the Saints ranked among the top teams in rushing attempts during the first four weeks of the season.
“A large part of our success in the ground game is particularly due to our wide receivers’ play. The blocking has been outstanding,” stated offensive line coach John Benton. “Not only the blocking, but the silly things like fake jet sweeps. They run with conviction and we strive to demonstrate how much they affect the defense every time.”
Olave has committed to his role, launching himself to block against the Panthers and taking down three defenders on a 17-yard gain by Kamara.
“Chris’s willingness to participate in a run to the weak side and take out three guys… that block was the play of the day,” said Carr the following week.
In that same game, Olave’s and center Erik McCoy’s blocks opened a lane for running back Jamaal Williams to score on a 14-yard run. Olave continued that trend in Week 2 by blocking his man long enough for Kamara to reach the end zone in a win against the Dallas Cowboys.
He has not only demonstrated his dependability in the run game but also impressed Kubiak with his participation in training camp.
“He was our iron man in training camp. He didn’t miss a single practice,” Kubiak noted. “He is one of many who has done everything we’ve asked, and he knows there’s still much more to do.”
Olave’s acceptance of “the dirty work” has not gone unnoticed.
“He’s out there making receptions early, then after practice, he’s putting in extra reps with the quarterbacks,” said rookie receiver Bub Means. “I’ve been following that routine, but he’s a first-round draft pick… and he’s still there working hard. It just shows that he is one of the best in the business and keeps delivering.”
This change comes at a time when the Saints are experiencing a general overhaul. Keith Williams, at 53, was hired as the wide receivers coach to offer what Allen described as a sort of “father figure” leadership.
With Michael Thomas released in March, Olave and Shaheed have now become veterans in the room. The Saints also signed 28-year-old Cedrick Wilson Jr. Recently, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Saints were among the shortlist of teams interested in acquiring Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams. Adams shared a past connection with Carr from Fresno State and Las Vegas. While both primarily play outside, both have taken snaps from the slot this year, making it possible for a versatile pairing.
Olave has credited Thomas for his development, stating that he helped him overcome the rookie wall in 2022. Despite Thomas being limited to 13 games in the last two seasons due to injuries, he left a legacy after catching an NFL record 149 passes for the Saints in 2019.
With Thomas no longer on the team, it is clear that Olave will be the primary playmaker going forward. He has embraced the responsibility and has quietly become a player others seek to emulate.
“What I could see from day one is how hard he works. He is very dedicated to his craft,” remarked rookie receiver Mason Tipton. “He’s on the Jugs machine. He does extra speed work. He studies film. You don’t expect that from a number one wide receiver. You’d think they just maintain consistency. But he works very hard.”
Olave noted that he is only a year older than Means and the same age as Tipton. Yet if he gets the opportunity to set a new standard this year, he will certainly seize it.
“I learned that at Ohio State when I was very young, and I brought it here,” he said. “I know I’m not very talkative, but I try to lead by example, working hard so everyone follows suit.”