Chris Olave of the New Orleans Saints will continue to write his name in the franchise’s record books

Although the passing game has been such a crucial part of the New Orleans Saints’ success, it wasn’t until recent years that the team achieved a 100-catch season. It wasn’t until former wide receiver Michael Thomas surpassed the 100-catch mark three seasons in a row starting in 2017 that they accomplished the feat.

Meanwhile, the team has had several successful seasons in other major categories, with many 1,000-yard receivers, double-digit touchdown receptions and more. But despite this recent success, the Saints’ third-year wide receiver Chris Olave is already firmly established as one of the team’s top players.

Olave is just one year short of 1,000 yards receiving to overtake former wide receiver Brandin Cooks, who is just outside the franchise’s top 10 in that category. Additionally, he currently ranks third on the all-time receiving yards list by a Saints player in his first two years in the league.

Just 76 more yards in 2023 would have moved Olave past Colston for No. 2 on the list. Although he fell just short of that mark last year, he has another chance in 2024. Colston’s 2008 season, the third of his career, was cut short by injury. Because of that, Olave now needs just 836 yards to surpass Colston’s 3,000-yard mark in his first three seasons.

Olave has averaged 1,082.5 receiving yards in his first two seasons, giving him a good chance to move up to second place on this prestigious franchise list.

If he really wants to stand out and take the top spot from Thomas, he’ll need a season that will almost certainly earn him All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Thomas finished his third year with 3,787 total receiving yards. That means Olave would have to reach at least 1,623 yards in 2024 to take the crown. But it’s not impossible.

The Saints’ new offensive system seems ready to showcase the explosive nature of its weapons. Wide receivers Olave and Rashid Shaheed should be in prime position to step up with the new approach. If the 2022 first-round pick hits that mark, he could challenge for the league lead, something no Saints player has accomplished since Thomas’ record-setting 2019 season (1,725).

Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill, who led the team in receiving yards last year, had just over 170 yards of that total. Don’t expect Olave to surpass 1,600 yards, but there’s a real possibility he could rank second in franchise history in his first three years. Anything beyond that would be a gamble.

The former Ohio State Buckeye is already establishing himself as one of the best receivers in Saints history. The fact that he’s in the same conversation as Thomas and Colston is proof of that. But in the coming years, he has a chance to go from “one of the best” to “the best,” starting with a standout performance in 2024.