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Chris Olave won't be a free agent after the 2026 NFL season after all.
The New Orleans Saints are signing Olave to a four-year contract extension, according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter. The 26-year-old receiver will make a base value of up to $132 million as part of that deal and carry an average annual value (AAV) of $33 million. The AAV ties him with Pittsburgh Steelers wideout DK Metcalf for sixth-highest paid receiver in the NFL.
Olave's lucrative, long-term extension comes on the heels of a career-best 2025 season. The 2022 first-round pick notched career-best marks in receptions (100), receiving yards (1,163) and receiving touchdowns (9) while showing good chemistry with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough.
Olave has been as consistent as they come during his NFL career to date, posting posted three 1,000-yard campaigns across his first four seasons. The only concern with the 26-year-old is his history of concussions, which he admitted led him to consider retiring after he suffered multiple during the 2024 NFL season.
But now, Olave is locked in long-term with the Saints. He will continue to serve as Shough's No. 1 receiver while also working as a long-term partner for 2026 first-round pick Jordyn Tyson.
Here's what to know about Olave's big-money contract extension with the Saints.
Olave has averaged 90 catches for 1,152 yards and six touchdowns per 17 games played across his career to date. Below is a look at his full stats from 55 career games played, all with the Saints.
Olave has never played in a postseason game but the Saints will hope to change that in short order as they continue to rebuild under Kellen Moore.
Olave has missed just 13 of a possible 68 career games, but 11 of those missed games have been because of concussions.
Olave has suffered four known concussions during his NFL career. He suffered one in each of his first two seasons, missing a single game each time.
However, in 2024, Olave suffered two concussions in a three-week span. He missed nine total games because of the injuries and acknowledged in 2025 that he considered retiring after the head injuries.
Instead, Olave opted to continue playing. He missed just one game in 2025, which was due to the discovery of a blood clot in his lung before New Orleans' Week 18 game.
The only other injury that caused Olave to miss a game during his NFL career was a sprained ankle he suffered late in the 2023 season. He missed just one game that time.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Saints sign Chris Olave to contract extension. Here's what it means
Continue reading...
The New Orleans Saints are signing Olave to a four-year contract extension, according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter. The 26-year-old receiver will make a base value of up to $132 million as part of that deal and carry an average annual value (AAV) of $33 million. The AAV ties him with Pittsburgh Steelers wideout DK Metcalf for sixth-highest paid receiver in the NFL.
Olave's lucrative, long-term extension comes on the heels of a career-best 2025 season. The 2022 first-round pick notched career-best marks in receptions (100), receiving yards (1,163) and receiving touchdowns (9) while showing good chemistry with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough.
Olave has been as consistent as they come during his NFL career to date, posting posted three 1,000-yard campaigns across his first four seasons. The only concern with the 26-year-old is his history of concussions, which he admitted led him to consider retiring after he suffered multiple during the 2024 NFL season.
But now, Olave is locked in long-term with the Saints. He will continue to serve as Shough's No. 1 receiver while also working as a long-term partner for 2026 first-round pick Jordyn Tyson.
Here's what to know about Olave's big-money contract extension with the Saints.
Chris Olave contract details
- Term: Four years
- Total contract value: Up to $132 million
- Average annual value (AAV): $33 million
- Guaranteed money: $90 million
Chris Olave stats
Olave has averaged 90 catches for 1,152 yards and six touchdowns per 17 games played across his career to date. Below is a look at his full stats from 55 career games played, all with the Saints.
- Targets: 457
- Receptions: 291
- Receiving yards: 3,728
- Receiving TDs: 19
- Yards per reception: 12.8
Olave has never played in a postseason game but the Saints will hope to change that in short order as they continue to rebuild under Kellen Moore.
Chris Olave injury history
Olave has missed just 13 of a possible 68 career games, but 11 of those missed games have been because of concussions.
Olave has suffered four known concussions during his NFL career. He suffered one in each of his first two seasons, missing a single game each time.
However, in 2024, Olave suffered two concussions in a three-week span. He missed nine total games because of the injuries and acknowledged in 2025 that he considered retiring after the head injuries.
Instead, Olave opted to continue playing. He missed just one game in 2025, which was due to the discovery of a blood clot in his lung before New Orleans' Week 18 game.
The only other injury that caused Olave to miss a game during his NFL career was a sprained ankle he suffered late in the 2023 season. He missed just one game that time.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Saints sign Chris Olave to contract extension. Here's what it means
Continue reading...
