Chris Olave has been perhaps the most consistent player on the post-Drew Brees Saints, and the wide receiver is due for a new contract in the coming months. Selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Ohio State product immediately made a name for himself with a strong 72-catch, 1,042-yard rookie season. He proved this wasn’t a one-time fluke in 2023 when he recorded 87 receptions for 1,123 yards and five touchdowns. While injuries limited him to just eight games in 2024, he bounced back with a strong 2025.
Despite playing under a new head coach and multiple quarterbacks, Chris Olave had the best season of his career last year. Starting and appearing in 16 games, the wideout finished his fourth season with 100 receptions for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns on 156 attempts. While he hasn’t made a Pro Bowl as of yet, he’s still one of the league’s better young talents and will receive a hefty raise at some point in the near future. The only question is whether or not the Saints will be the team to give him that second contract.
Recently, New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis spoke to reporters on the status of the Chris Olave extension, and Saints fans might not be happy with what he had to say.
Saints GM Mickey Loomis: Chris Olave Extension Still A Work In Progress
New Orleans has reportedly been working with Chris Olave on a potential extension for a while now, but Loomis says the two sides are still apart on a potential deal.
“Obviously, we’d love to have something done sooner than later, and I’m sure Chris would as well, but we’re not there yet,” Loomis said.
This is pure speculation, but there is a real chance that Olave’s extensive concussion history could be the reason for the disconnect between player and team. Nobody denies how good Chris Olave is when he’s on the field, but keeping him healthy hasn’t been the easiest task. The Ohio State product suffered two concussions in 2024 alone, and he’s had at least five going back to his collegiate days. Head injuries are no joking matter, and there is a very real chance that Olave is just one bad hit away from having to call it a career. Given this uncertainty, it’s fair to wonder if the Saints aren’t comfortable with guaranteeing a high percentage of his salary.
What’s Next?
Chris Olave is now entering his fifth year in the league and the final season of his rookie contract. While the Saints could use the franchise tag to keep him around for two additional seasons, they’ll need to decide on his future sooner rather than later. As of this posting, New Orleans has $8.28 million in available spending money, which is much better than usual. Additionally, they’re projected to have just under $49 million in cap space next year, which is a welcome change of pace after so many seasons of mortgaging the future.
This means the Saints have the money to extend Chris Olave to a respectable contract. The Ohio State product will not reset the market by any stretch of the imagination, but some team will pay him to be their top receiver. New Orleans has the financial resources to do this, especially since starting quarterback Tyler Shough will be on his rookie deal for the next three seasons.
Ultimately, if Chris Olave can stay healthy in 2026, then the Saints will probably extend him. However, if he has another concussion, New Orleans might not feel comfortable investing franchise-altering money into him – especially if first-round pick Jodyn Tyson hits the ground running.
Main Photo: Andrew Nelles – Imagn Images
