Saints wide receiver Chris Olave is the newest NFLer to money in on an extension this summer. Olave has agreed to a four-year deal value as much as $132MM, including $90MM in guarantees, in line with ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Josina Anderson of The Exhibit reported earlier Thursday that talks were “heating up” between the Saints and Olave.
This was the expected end result after either side expressed optimism a couple of deal coming together through the negotiating process. Olave was confident in early June he and the team would reach an agreement before training camp. It took a giant longer than that, though, as Olave had been holding in at the start of camp.
When asked a couple of potential Olave extension on Tuesday, general manager Mickey Loomis declared (via NewOrleans.Football), “We would like to get it done.” While Loomis also noted he and Olave’s camp weren’t quite on the finish line, they’ve arrived just two days later. Going by the numbers Schefter provided, Olave now ranks sixth amongst receivers in total value, guarantees and average salary ($33MM). He’s the newest former Ohio State receiver to reel in a nine-figure extension since last summer, joining the Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba (4 years, $168.6MM) and the Jets’ Garrett Wilson (4 years, $130MM).
Like Wilson, Olave entered the league as a first-round pick in 2022. He was there at No. 11 overall for Loomis, who saw the Falcons take Drake London at No. 8 and the Jets grab Wilson tenth. Having logged excellent production in the professionals, all three players are actually among the many league’s richest wideouts. For his part, Olave has hauled in 291 catches for 3,728 yards and 19 touchdowns in 55 games. He has done so despite unspectacular quarterback play and multiple concerning health issues.
Although Olave has played either 15 or 16 games in three of his 4 seasons, he has suffered not less than 4 concussions since he got here into the league. Olave revealed that he mulled retirement after coping with a pair of concussions that limited him to eight games in 2024. Meanwhile, the Saints were confident enough in Olave’s health to exercise his $15.49MM fifth-year option for 2026. After deciding to proceed his profession, the 6-foot, 187-pounder set personal highs in catches (100), yards (1,163 yards) and touchdowns (nine) over 16 games.
Olave earned a second-team All-Pro nod in 2025, though he handled further health-related adversity over the past few months. A blood clot in Olave’s lung kept him out of the Saints’ season finale. The 26-year-old was facing a four-week recovery period then, nevertheless it took longer than expected to bounce back. He got off blood thinners earlier this summer and was officially cleared for camp this week.
More to come back…