The New Orleans Saints' rebuild hinges on wide receiver Chris Olave becoming the No. 1 target he was drafted to be, and the team has invested in him with the thought that he can become that dominant fixture immediately.
Olave and the Saints agreed to a four-year contract extension worth up to $132 million that will guarantee him around $90 million and pay him $33 million per season. This makes him the sixth-highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL, slightly beating out DK Metcalf and former Ohio State teammate Garrett Wilson.
The Saints are starting to turn things around, and Kellen Moore could have this team in a position to compete for an NFC South title as soon as this season. Now that Olave has committed himself to being a Saint for the long-term future, this offense has a very high ceiling in 2026 and beyond.
Saints agree to four-year contract extension with star WR Chris Olave
Olave, who was picked 11th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft (just one selection after Wilson), has been everything the Saints could have expected despite some subpar quarterback play around him. While concussions and other injuries held him to eight games in 2024, the underrated Olave has recorded at least 1,000 yards receiving in three of his four pro seasons. Under Moore in 2025, Olave had his first 100-catch campaign.
The Olave extension is the latest piece of business New Orleans has transacted that is based entirely around making sure Tyler Shough can be effective. Olave's extension comes after retaining franchise great Alvin Kamara, drafting wide receiver Jordyn Tyson No. 8 overall in 2026, and signing running back Travis Etienne to a four-year contract.
When paired with a solid offensive line that has has years of premium NFL Draft capital sunk into it and one of the game's smartest offensive minds in Moore on the sidelines, the Olave deal could put Shough in a position to where even a half-decent showing could put them at the forefront of the NFC South.
The Saints have been through some very lean years as the salary cap ramifications of their title pushes under Drew Brees came home to roost, but Mickey Loomis has proven that his eye for talent has not eroded completely just yet. Olave has been a tremendous draft pick and ambassador for the Saints franchise, and this team was not going to let him head into 2026 without a hefty long-term deal.
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