The New Orleans Saints and wide receiver Chris Olave agreed to a long-term extension on Thursday.
The Saints announced a multi-year deal for Olave while reports pinpointed it as a four-year, $132 million deal that includes $90 million guaranteed.
The extension puts the 26-year-old Olave under contract through 2030. The $33 million average annual salary is tied for sixth-highest among receivers with DK Metcalf of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Olave will earn $15.49 million in 2026 after the Saints picked up the fifth-year option of his rookie deal in April.
Olave participated in New Orleans’ first two training camp practices but only did individual drills and walk-throughs while negotiations were ongoing.
“I think the biggest thing is there’s the business side and there’s the football side, obviously. And we know sometimes those two overlap,” Saints coach Kellen Moore said after Thursday’s practice. “It’s inevitable. And I think communication is the key.
“As long as we all communicate and we’re all on the same page. I think we always have to remind ourselves, everyone has the same goal. Everyone’s shooting for the same things. It’s just sometimes the business side takes a little bit of a lead on this for a matter of time and we’ll work through that.”
Olave has topped 1,000 receiving yards in three of his four seasons. He had career bests of 100 receptions, 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns in 16 games last season.
Olave missed the final game of last season due to a blood clot in his lung. The clot kept him limited in offseason workouts. Blood thinners helped alleviate the issue.
Olave was limited to eight games in 2024 due to sustaining at least two concussions. He was carted off the field after taking a blow to the head against the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 3, 2024 and missed the rest of the season.
Olave was a first-round draft choice (No. 11 overall) in 2022 out of Ohio State. He has 291 receptions for 3,728 yards and 19 touchdowns in 55 NFL games (44 starts).
–Field Level Media
