Saints WR Chris Olave looking to make move 'from a good player to an elite player'

As the 11th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Chris Olave has lived up to the billing in two seasons with the New Orleans Saints, surpassing the 1,000-yard receiving mark both times. But he believes he’s just getting started.

In his third year, Olave is aiming to take his game to the next level as New Orleans counts on him to be their No. 1 wide receiver in 2024.

“Really everywhere,” Olave said Wednesday on The Insiders, which airs on NFL Network and NFL+ at 7 p.m. ET. “Just going into this offseason knowing that (the Saints) believe in me as the Receiver 1, I’m excited to get to work. But I’m just trying to take that next step forward and try to go from a good player to an elite player. So just trying to be consistent every day and put in the work to be able to be one of the top receivers in the game.”

Olave concluded the previous season with 87 receptions for 1,123 yards — both figures ranking him in the NFL’s top 20 — along with five touchdowns and a two-point conversion. The Saints also ranked in the league’s upper half in most offensive statistics, particularly in the passing game.

But things didn’t always look right on that side of the ball for New Orleans under former offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, including the connection between quarterback Derek Carr and Olave, who appeared to be on different pages at times.

Olave mentioned that after missing the playoffs in both his seasons with the team, the Saints players have decided to hold each other accountable.

“The bar is always set high,” stated Olave. “We always aim high. We didn’t meet those standards in the first two years, but as I mentioned, the objective within the organization is always to qualify for the playoffs and make significant progress once there.”

We are committing to daily accountability this year, striving for consistency. The effort typically begins around this time, enabling us to excel in December, January, and February. I’m thrilled that we’re already initiating the hard work.

However, last year’s challenges resulted in a change in coaching staff. Klint Kubiak, the new coordinator, has joined in, bringing with him a West Coast-based passing game from San Francisco where he served as the 49ers’ passing-game coordinator. Olave expressed his approval of what he has observed from his new play-caller.

“Kubiak introduces a truly dynamic offense to the Saints, with a variety of plays, schemes, and styles,” said Olave. “I’m thrilled to participate in that West Coast offense. He offers a unique element to us and I’m looking forward to collaborating with him.”

We’ve been performing exceptionally well in the OTAs. We’ve started off strong, effectively learning the plays and other necessary skills. We’re proactively preparing now to ensure we’re ready when the season begins.

This offseason, Olave has experienced some setbacks. Dennis Allen, the head coach of the Saints, disclosed that Olave incurred a shoulder injury while in the weight room a few weeks back. As a precautionary measure, the team had Olave wear a red jersey (indicating no-contact) during practice, despite his ability to participate largely in practice.

Olave informed “The Insiders” that his shoulder isn’t a significant worry at the moment, particularly as training camp is still over a month away.

“I’m doing well,” he stated. “Currently, I’m in rehab due to a minor injury. As I mentioned, I am still participating in every repetition, so there’s no need to worry excessively about it.”