Bleacher Report’s David Kenyon highlighted the best building block on every team. Is it any surprised he selected Chris Olave as the New Orleans Saints top foundational piece?
Kenyon specified only players still on their rookie contract were eligible for this list. For example, George Karlaftis was the selection for the Kansas City Chiefs instead of Patrick Mahomes. Olave likely would have been the selection for the Saints even without that caveat simply due to his age in comparison to most of the team’s key players. But here’s why Kenyon highlighted him:
Pro Bowl-type recognition may be around the corner for Chris Olave, considering he already has a couple of 1,000-yard seasons. New Orleans would be justified to believe he’ll headline the receiving corps for the remainder of the decade—and maybe more.
Entering his third year, he is fully entrenched as the Saints top wide receiver. He has occupied that role in his first two years, but injuries played a part in how much the Saints relied on him. With or without injuries, he has been looked at as the man from the start.
Olave should look to cross the 1,200 receiving yard threshold this season to further entrench his position and justify some of the hype. If he takes the same leap as last year, he will narrowly eclipse that number. Olave will be the focal point of the passing attack in 2024. Listing him as New Orleans’ best building block was the obvious choice, but that could change if young draft picks like Taliese Fuaga and Bryan Bresee rapidly develop.
