It wasn’t pretty at times as Derek Carr worked to get in sync with his young wide receiver Chris Olave, but the playmaker made some big strides as the 2023 season wore on. Olave improved on all of his numbers from his 2022 rookie year, catching more passes at a higher rate and picking up more first downs while putting more points on the board.
So how does Olave feel about catching passes from Carr again in 2024? An expected contract restructure will tie Carr to the team (and Olave, critically) for at least the next two seasons.
“Oh yeah he’s a veteran, man,” Olave told the CHGO Sports podcast. “He’s 10 years in the league, he’s played real good ball with the Raiders. First year with the Saints offense, we’ve just got to build. It’s just about chemistry.”
Of course that’s just one part of the equation. Few positions are as reliant on others to find success as wide receivers. They need a talented quarterback to throw the ball their way and a skilled play caller to put them in a position to win.
To that end, he’s grateful for what he learned from Pete Carmichael through his first two years in the NFL. But Olave can’t help but be excited about what’s ahead of him, telling Bleacher Report’s Scott Polacek: “We had really good relationships with the offensive coaches my past two years, but I wish (Carmichael) the best moving forward. Having someone new come in means there’s going to be a new scheme and new offense, so I’m excited to learn the playbook here and keep moving forward.”
San Francisco 49ers passing game specialist Klint Kubiak will be coming to New Orleans as their new offensive coordinator after Super Bowl LVIII; he can’t formally accept the job and sign a contract until after the title game, but the Saints have already begun pursuing candidates to fill out his staff. And Kubiak’s experience in the high-flying 49ers offense could be tremendous for Olave. More reps with Carr and a more-creative play caller should help him take the next step and, hopefully, earn his place among the league’s best receivers.
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