Here’s Ohio State WR Chris Olave on his relationship with #Saints WR Michael Thomas, his meeting with the organization this week, and what it would be like to play in New Orleans. pic.twitter.com/argAet6eHj
— Ross Jackson (@RossJacksonNOLA) March 2, 2022
The New Orleans Saints will be in the wide receiver market this offseason and the NFL Draft offers several potential additions. One of the top prospects at the position is Ohio State wideout Chris Olave. Olave and his teammate Garrett Wilson were two-thirds of the nation’s best wide receiver trio with the Buckeyes and now both will enter next month’s NFL Draft.
Olave in particular has been in the spotlight for a couple draft cycles. He returned for his senior year in 2021, piling on 65 receptions for 936 receiving yards and 13 touchdown catches through 11 games. This week, Olave was in Indianapolis for the NFL scouting combine. During his media session I had the chance to ask him about his relationship with star pass-catcher Michael Thomas.
“I’ve talked to Mike Thomas a couple times,” Olave said. “He’s a great role model to me. One of the best receivers in the game from previous years and years to come.” Olave has a clear appreciation for the two-time All-Pro, who cheered on the new class of Buckeyes receivers throughout the season. “Just to be able to communicate with him, send texts back and forth, and see from his perspective. Just to be able to use him as a guy to lean on, I feel like is huge.”
Olave also spoke highly of the New Orleans Saints organization when asked if he had met with them this week in Indianapolis: “I met with the Saints on Monday also. It was a great meeting. I would love to be there,” Olave said as a smile overtook his face, adding, “New Orleans is a good city. I played in New Orleans one time against Clemson and it ended up being good.”
The star wideout also mentioned the Ohio State-to-New Orleans pipeline, acknowledging that he’d like to keep it going. Presently the Saints have six Buckeyes on their roster, including Michael Thomas. Could Chris Olave, who could be the first Buckeye wideout taken in the first round in since 2007, join his mentor?
