Could recent injuries hurt his ranking?
Since the New Orleans Saints selected Chris Olave in the 2022 NFL Draft, the former Ohio State wide receiver was propelled to the top spot on the offense. Even when the Saints had hope that Michael Thomas would come back from injury and play like he did before being out, Olave’s stardom was evident, and everyone knew it. The issue for Olave has been staying on the field.
Recently, PFF ranked the 32 best wide receivers going into the 2025 season. Olave is on the list, but PFF ranked the young receiver at 24, one ahead of Zay Flowers, and one behind D.K. Metcalf:
Talent-wise, Olave could rank higher on this list. He has earned receiving grades of 82.9, 82.9 and 83.0 in his first three seasons, showing impressive consistency. However, his concussion history is a growing concern. A fully healthy season could easily propel him into the top 20.
Although this ranking is a bit disappointing, the reason for it makes sense. Olave is one of the most talented receivers in the league, but he has had injury issues, questionable QB play, and the Saints’ previous coaching issues. The future is bright for Olave, and there is an expectation that he can have a massive bounce-back season under the new coaching staff.