Updated

Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 31

Saints Lock Up Chris Olave on 4-Year, $132 Million Extension After 100-Catch Season

Updated

Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 31

Saints Lock Up Chris Olave on 4-Year, $132 Million Extension After 100-Catch Season

Q: Will Chris Olave's massive $132 million extension backfire on the Saints given his alarming history of concussions and blood clots?

It could backfire, but the Saints made a defensible bet rather than a reckless one. The risk is obvious. Olave has a documented concussion history, including multiple concussions in 2024, and he missed the 2025 finale because of a blood clot in his lung. Those are not minor issues for a receiver taking hits over the middle, and they are serious enough that Mickey Loomis openly acknowledged them during negotiations. With $90 million guaranteed, New Orleans is exposed if Olave misses significant time or if the head injuries become a long-term career threat. But the football case for paying him is strong. Olave has already produced like a true No. 1 target, with 291 catches, 3,728 yards and 19 touchdowns in four seasons, and he is coming off his best year: 100 receptions, 1,163 yards, nine scores and second-team All-Pro honors. At age 26, he is still in his prime, and the Saints clearly view him as a central piece for Tyler Shough and Kellen Moore’s offense. The contract also fits the market. Comparable young receivers such as Garrett Wilson and Drake London have landed deals in the same general range, and waiting likely would have made Olave even more expensive. New Orleans appears to have balanced upside and risk by not pushing the guarantees to the very top of the market. So yes, the deal can backfire if Olave’s health breaks down. But if he stays available, the Saints likely secured a top receiver at a price that may look reasonable as the market keeps rising.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 31

$132 million secures Chris Olave for four more years in New Orleans, cementing the Saints' No. 1 receiver heading into the 2026 season.
100 catches, 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns in 16 games last season drove the extension after Olave was limited to eight games in 2024 by concussions.
$90 million of the deal is guaranteed, according to earlier reports, keeping the 26-year-old under contract through 2030.
Tyler Shough now enters camp with his top target locked in, while fantasy rankings already place Olave around WR12 in half-PPR formats.