Chris Olave
WR #12 — New Orleans Saints
More New Orleans Saints Players
About Chris Olave
Chris Olave runs routes so clean that defensive backs file complaints with their union. His nickname is "Smooth Criminal" and it fits perfectly because watching him play is like watching someone commit a crime in slow motion and get away with it every single time. He came out of Ohio State as one of the most polished receivers in the draft, landed in New Orleans, and immediately started producing numbers that would be considered elite if anyone outside of Louisiana bothered to watch Saints games on a regular basis.
The tragedy of Chris Olave is that he's been one of the best young receivers in the NFL while playing on teams that can't figure out who should throw him the ball. He's put up 1,000-yard seasons with quarterback situations that would make most receivers request a trade. Instead, Olave just keeps running perfect routes, catching contested balls, and doing postgame interviews where he says exactly the right thing in exactly the right tone. He's the anti-drama wide receiver in a league where drama is the primary export of the position. No social media controversies. No sideline tantrums. Just highlights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do fans call Chris Olave the Smooth Criminal?
Because his route running looks like it was choreographed by someone who hates defensive backs. He doesn't use speed to beat coverage. He uses footwork, timing, and the kind of subtle body manipulation that makes cornerbacks commit to the wrong direction. The nickname comes from how effortless it looks. Other receivers are fast. Other receivers are strong. Olave is smooth, and in a league full of athletes, smooth is the thing you can't teach.
What makes Chris Olave content interesting despite his calm personality?
The contrast. Olave is the quietest superstar at the loudest position in football. Wide receivers are supposed to be divas, celebrators, social media provocateurs. Olave just catches the ball and walks back to the huddle like he's returning a library book. The comedy is in how boring he refuses to be while doing things that are objectively spectacular. He's the straight man in a league full of comedians.
Last updated: April 2026