Chris Olave has been one of the most reliable members of the post-Drew Brees New Orleans Saints, and the Ohio State product is quickly approaching the end of his rookie contract. Selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Olave immediately made a name for himself by recording 72 receptions for 1,042 yards and four touchdowns in just 15 games while catching passes from Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton. He proved this wasn’t a one-year fluke in 2023 when he posted 87 receptions for 1,123 yards and five touchdowns on 138 targets. While injuries limited him to just eight games in 2024, he shook off the hits and finished the 2025 season with 100 receptions for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns on 156 targets while starting and appearing in 16 games.
While Chris Olave isn’t an elite receiver like Ja’Marr Chase or Justin Jefferson, the former first-round pick has proven time and time again that he has what it takes to lead a passing attack. Now entering the final year of his rookie contract, Olave is due for an extension, and The Athletic’s Larry Holder believes he’ll get one. In a recent article, the NFL analyst predicted he’ll receive an extension in the coming months.
“There’s an expectation that this should happen before the start of the 2026 campaign,” Holder said. “Once a deal occurs, all eyes will be on the receiver as he’s clearly the top option for second-year quarterback Tyler Shough.”
Report: Chris Olave, Saints Extension, Likely Coming Before Season
This is fantastic news for Saints fans, both because Chris Olave is a great young player and because his presence should help Tyler Shough reach his potential. It’s still too early to say whether or not the second-round pick is a legitimate franchise quarterback, but the Louisville product looked the part in the back half of the 2025 season. Going 5-4 in his nine starts, the rookie finished his inaugural campaign by completing 67.6% of his passes for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns, six interceptions, and a 74.6 PFF grade, the 19th-best mark out of 38 eligible passers.
While only time will tell what the future holds for Tyler Shough, it’s no secret that a strong supporting cast can increase a quarterback’s odds of becoming a legitimate franchise icon. Locking down Chris Olave as the long-term WR1 in this offense is a no-brainer, even with first-round pick Jordyn Tyson on the roster. In a perfect world, Tyson will hit the ground running, and New Orleans will have one of the league’s best wide receiver duos. However, if he struggles out of the gate and needs time to adjust to the NFL, Olave’s presence will ensure Shough has at least one reliable receiver on the roster.
