The Saints continue to view Chris Olave as an extension candidate, and a clear path to that agreement now exists. The contract-year wideout received clearance from the blood clot issue that surfaced in January.
Mickey Loomis said (via ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell) Olave is now “full go.” A blood clot was detected in the receiver’s lung in January, and he had still been navigating the issue last month. Olave had told Terrell he was expected to move off his blood thinner medication before camp. It looks like he has reemerged at a good time for his financial future. Regarding that future, Olave is not a full practice participant.
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It appears we have a partial hold-in being staged at Saints camp, with Kellen Moore indicating (via Terrell) is not participating in team drills due to his contract. This represents a step forward for Olave, who has battled multiple significant medical issues since the 2024 season — a concussion-marred campaign. Given his history and an extension seemingly in the near future, the former first-round pick holding in is certainly logical.
Loomis said (via NewOrleans.football) the Saints want to complete their Olave extension. Talks have taken place since last year. The ongoing nature of the discussions could well point to the sides being dug in at price points, but the Saints have long hoped to complete a deal. The 25th-year GM acknowledged there is still ground to cover.
Olave had expected an extension to be completed by camp, so the sides are a bit behind. But six weeks remain until Week 1, giving the parties considerable time. The Saints also have exclusive negotiating rights with Olave until the 2027 legal tampering period, though considering his form through four seasons, New Orleans’ deadline is probably the early-March franchise tag window.
A recent Trade Rumors Front Office subscriber chat brought an Olave price-range question; I mentioned a deal landing between ex-Ohio State teammate Garrett Wilson‘s Jets extension ($32MM per year) and Drake London‘s $35.2MM-AAV Falcons contract. The Saints attempting to keep Olave south of Wilson, due to his medical issues, also would seem reasonable — even if the cap has ballooned by more than $20MM since the Wilson deal. Like Wilson, Olave has produced with subaverage quarterback play (three 1,000-yard seasons); though, Wilson has dealt with worse signal-caller circumstances. But Olave also suffered two concussions in 2024 and had dealt with two more as a Saint prior to that season. He previously considered retirement as a result.
The Saints also refrained from trading Olave last year, as interest emerged, while moving Rashid Shaheed. That will help Olave’s leverage. While New Orleans drafted Jordyn Tyson eighth overall, he will be tied to a rookie-scale deal through at least the 2028 season. The Saints could keep Tyson on his rookie pact through 2030, via the fifth-year option. Although no option comes with Tyler Shough‘s second-round contract, he is tied to rookie terms through 2028. These two pacts would pair well with an Olave extension. New Orleans exercised Olave’s option in 2025, and he is tied to a $15.49MM 2026 salary.
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