Saints TE Noah Fant makes bold Chris Olave-Ja'Marr Chase comparison

Noah Fant has played alongside some of the NFL’s most accomplished wide receivers. It’s something that gives the New Orleans Saints tight end a unique perspective on where Chris Olave stands around the league. Fant spent last season in Cincinnati with Ja’Marr Chase, who commands one of the NFL’s largest target shares. After watching Olave during his first training camp in New Orleans, Fant believes the Saints’ star belongs in a similar tier to where Chase stands.

“Ja’Marr got a lot of targets a game, as he should have,” Fant told reporters on Sunday. “He’s a great player, like, transcending wide receiver. But I think Chris — I mean, I think he’s just as much up there. You know what I’m saying? Like, he’s a great player.”

Fant has also shared offenses with DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Courtland Sutton during previous stops. It’s a perspective that carries additional weight because he’s seen several versions of elite receiver play throughout his career.

Olave will remain one of the primary pieces of the Saints’ offense after being rewarded with a four-year contract extension worth up to $132 million just a few days ago. He also established himself early as one of Tyler Shough’s top targets. For Fant, the tight end understands that the ball will frequently go in Olave’s direction.

“There’s guys like Chris Olave, right? He’s going to have the ball a lot,” Fant said. “He’s a really good player, and as he should.”

The Saints have surrounded Olave with more offensive talent, including Fant, as well as a deep group of running backs, tight ends, and wide receivers. Fant said every player must remain prepared even when the offense runs through its biggest stars.

“We know we have a lot of talent,” Fant said. “We know we have a lot of mouths to feed, but we’re just going to do our job every play. And if we’re doing that, we’re going to be in a good spot at the end of the year.”