Look, we’re all about finding silver linings. And there’s no doubting the storm clouds circling the New Orleans Saints right. Veteran wide receivers Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry are in the middle of extended absences due to injuries — Thomas is dealing with a foot issue, while Landry is still recovering from an ankle problem. If there’s an upside here, it’s that the time they’re missing creates a big opportunity for Chris Olave to adjust to life as an NFL team’s No. 1 wide receiver.
Now, this isn’t exactly a new experience for him. Olave was the best receiver at Ohio State for years, playing ahead of other future first-round talents like Garrett Wilson, Jameson Williams, and the phenomenal Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He’s been competing against the best defensive backs his teams can throw at him in practice and his opponents can line up against him in games since he was in high school.
And that’s not going to change any time soon. Thomas and Landry missing time now gives Olave more snaps in practice and on top of the wide receivers rotation in games. That will help him prepare for the No. 1 gig in the NFL on a full-time basis in the not-so-distant future. Landry is going to be a free agent in the spring, and Thomas carries a salary cap hit north of $28.2 million next season. One or both of them might not be in New Orleans anymore, leaving Olave alone at the top. He won’t lack for opportunities or targets in the Saints offense. He’s under contract through 2025 with a fifth-year team option for 2026. It’s a safe bet that he’ll see it through.
And he’s already exceeded the very high expectations set for him. Olave ranks among the NFL’s leaders in just about any receiving metric you can imagine. It’s a testament to his abilities and his impact on the Saints offense that it’s kept them in games without those two top receivers and while shackled to an ailing defense. Olave is the complete package: reliable on third downs, dangerous on vertical throws, and consistently open against tight coverage. It’s frustrating that Thomas and Landry are still unavailable, but Olave is justifying the efforts New Orleans put into adding him this year week after week.