Countdown to Kickoff: Chris Olave is the Saints Player of Day 12

Just 12 days separate us from the New Orleans Saints regular season opener. The Saints travel north to start 2026, playing at the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13. Wearing No. 12 for New Orleans is star Chris Olave at wide receiver. Olave is coming off his best season and a lucrative contract extension. He'll be a major part of the Saints offense. He's also the most recent in our Saints Player of the Day series.

Drafted: Round 1, 11th overall in 2022 (Saints)

After an explosive senior year of 93 catches, 1,764 yards, and 26 touchdowns at Mission Hills High School, Olave joined "The" Ohio State University. Even with the Buckeyes incredible depth at wide receiver, Olave managed to catch 12 balls for 197 yards as a true freshman in 2018, including two scores and a blocked punt against bitter rival Michigan. Olave was a huge part of the Buckeyes attack in 2019, catching 49 passes for a team-high 849 yards and leading the Big Ten with 12 touchdown catches. He'd lead Ohio State in all three receiving categories during a Covid-shortened 2020 season with 50 catches, 729 yards, and 7 scores. Olave capped off his Buckeyes career in 2021 by leading the Big Ten with 13 scoring receptions, pulling in 65 receptions for 936 yards. A two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection, Olave left as Ohio State's all-time leader in touchdown receptions (35) and third in both catches and receiving yards.

With their first of two first round choices in the 2022 NFL draft, the Saints took Olave with the 11th overall pick. He was the third receiver selected after Drake London and Ohio State teammate Garrett Wilson. Olave had immediate success as a rookie, leading the Saints with 72 receptions and 1,042 yards while scoring 4 times. His encore performance in 2023 was even better, as he pulled in 87 passes for 1,123 yards and 5 touchdowns. In the process, Olave became only the fourth player in franchise history to have back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in his first two years with New Orleans. Unfortunately, he was unable to make it three straight. Olave got 2024 off to a strong start with 31 receptions and 387 yards in his first seven games. However, the second of two concussions in Week 9 would shelve him for the rest of the season.

Olave's football durability and long-term health were both a major concern heading into the 2025 campaign. He responded with his best and most durable season, missing only the season finale and playing a career-best 884 snaps. Olave was targeted 156 times, pulling in 100 receptions for 1,163 yards and 9 touchdowns. All were the best numbers of his four-year career, as only Michael Thomas had more catches in a single season. What perhaps was most impressive is that Olave continued to be productive even when at times he and Juwan Johnson were the only viable receiving weapons.

New Orleans locked up Chris Olave with a lucrative four-year contract extension this offseason. The Saints also added more weaponry at receiver and running back. However, Olave should still be the top weapon. In 2025, he showed that he could handle the workload of a featured wideout.