The long list of Ohio State wide receivers to get paid in the NFL grew this week as Chris Olave inked his deal with the New Orleans Saints.
The list is growing! The modern-day wide receiver university is undoubtedly the Ohio State University, and the list of evidence grew on Friday.
Former Buckeye Chris Olave joined the exclusive list of guys who get that second, monster contract in the NFL. Olave's final numbers on his deal were a four-year extension worth $132 million, $90 million guaranteed.
This is a monster contract extension that slots him as the eighth-highest-paid wide receiver contract in the NFL. He is one slot behind his former teammate Garrett Wilson and one spot above Detroit's Amon Ra St. Brown.
The light at the end of the tunnel is almost there for Olave in New Orleans. His first couple of years were really tough as the post-Drew Brees Saints struggled to find a quarterback who was competent.
Insert Tyler Shough. Shough took over last year and showed that he has all the goods to be a great quarterback in the NFL. As a result, Olave's production went through the roof.
Olave had career highs in catches (100), yards (1,163), and touchdowns (9), and he was a big reason why the Saints were in contention to win the NFC South all the way up until the final week of the season.
Even when the Saints struggled to find a quarterback, Olave still produced. The 2024 season was the only year he didn't surpass 1,000 yards, and he played only 8 games.
He has been steady for the Saints throughout his first four years, and he has now been rewarded handsomely for his work.
Now, looking forward to Olave, he has the opportunity directly in front of him to help elevate the Saints from a fringe playoff team to a legitimate contender. He has the skill level to be a game changer, and now he has the quarterback to get him the ball.
Just because he has flown under the radar for the last four years, he will catch a lot of people by surprise when the Saints start winning this year, and he is at the forefront.
Good on the Saints for rewarding their star wide receiver, and good on Olave for putting in the work to get himself there. As if there was any more evidence needed to prove who is the top wide receiver factory, there it is.
