4 reasons to get super excited for New Orleans Saints training camp
• The D-line could be better in 2023 despite the losses
• Saints could run the table in the NFC South
By Randy Gurzi
2. Chris Olave should be even better in year two
As a rookie, Chris Olave was the Saints' No. 1 wide receiver. He finished with 72 receptions for 1,042 yards and four touchdowns. While he would have surely liked to get into the end zone more, it was still a great campaign for the No. 11 overall pick. And he did this with Andy Dalton under center, which won't be the case in 2023.
With no disrespect meant toward Dalton, he was no longer the player we saw earlier in his career while he was with New Orleans. Now in Carolina, he's expected to serve as a mentor to Bryce Young, which is a great role for him. For the Saints, they're now turning to Derek Carr — and that has Olave pumped up.
According to John Sigler of Saints Wire, Olave was asked if he and Carr were building a rapport and he responded with some enthusiasm:
“Oh hell yeah, we’ve been brewing, we’ve been cooking up. I feel like it’s just getting better and better. Just being on the field together, getting consistent. That’s how everybody builds chemistry just getting those reps, continuous repetition.”
New Orleans is expecting to see Michael Thomas back but at this point, it's best to assume he's not going to be in the plans. That way, anything they do get is a bonus. And the fact that Olave is ready for even more in year two makes such a mindset possible.