New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave is staying in the Crescent City long-term. On Thursday, Olave agreed to a four-year contract extension worth up to $132 million, including $90 million guaranteed. The deal keeps the former Ohio State star under contract with the Saints through the 2030 season.
Chris Olave Contract Details and New Orleans Saints Extension Breakdown
The extension comes after the Saints previously exercised Olave’s fifth-year option. He will play the 2026 season under that option before the new money kicks in starting in 2027.
Key terms:
- Length: Four years
- Total value: Up to $132 million
- Guaranteed money: $90 million
- Average annual value: Approximately $33 million
The agreement ended a minor “hold-in.” Olave had participated only in individual drills and walkthroughs during the Saints’ first two training camp practices while negotiations continued.
Former Ohio State Wide Receivers Cash In with Over $500 Million in Recent Extensions
Olave’s payday continues a remarkable run of big contracts for former Ohio State wide receivers. Over the past two offseasons, the group has combined for more than half a billion dollars in extensions:
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seattle Seahawks): 4 years, $168.2 million
- Chris Olave (New Orleans Saints): 4 years, up to $132 million
- Garrett Wilson (New York Jets): 4 years, $130 million
- Terry McLaurin (Washington Commanders): 3 years, $97 million
Combined total: $527.6 million.
Chris Olave’s Career-Best 2025 Season Fuels Saints Extension
Healthy in 2025, Olave delivered the best statistical season of his NFL career. He recorded 100 receptions for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns in 16 games, earning second-team All-Pro honors. He became just the second player in Saints history (joining Michael Thomas) to post a 100-catch season.
The performance came less than two years after a difficult 2024 campaign. Olave sustained multiple known concussions that year, including a hit against the Carolina Panthers that left him on a backboard. He missed the final eight games, consulted outside specialists, and briefly considered retirement before returning for 2025.
Olave has repeatedly praised the Saints for their support during that period. “This is where I want to be, man. They took a chance on me,” he said last December. “They traded up in the draft to be able to come get me. They’ve been nothing but good to me… They stood by my side.”
What the Chris Olave Extension Means for the New Orleans Saints
Locking up Olave secures a proven No. 1 receiver for the next several years as the Saints continue building around young quarterback talent. The deal ranks among the largest the franchise has given a wide receiver and places Olave among the higher-paid players at the position league-wide.
For Ohio State fans, it adds another chapter to the program’s recent pipeline of highly paid NFL pass-catchers. For Saints fans, it signals commitment to a core offensive piece who has shown elite production when healthy.
Chris Olave is locked in through 2030. The former Buckeye is ready for the next chapter in New Orleans.
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