The New Orleans Saints will kick off the 2026 NFL season against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13.
Before that date rolls around, the Saints are being urged to lock up their top receiving target with a contract extension.
GettyNEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 05: Chris Olave #12 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates after a touchdown during the first quarter in the game against the Chicago Bears at Caesars Superdome on November 05, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
GettyNEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 05: Chris Olave #12 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates after a touchdown during the first quarter in the game against the Chicago Bears at Caesars Superdome on November 05, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
In a recent article for ESPN, Aaron Schatz named one move that every team needs to make before the onset of the ’26 season and extending star wide receiver Chris Olave was the task for New Orleans.
Olave is entering the final year of his rookie contract and it could be beneficial for the Saints to lock him up long-term before the season starts, as opposed to allowing him to head into the season on an expiring contract.
The Ohio State product is coming off of his best year as a professional. Olave tallied 100 receptions for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns for New Orleans last season. If he turns in another similarly productive campaign, signing him to a new deal will likely become even more expensive for the Saints next offseason.
“Drafting Jordyn Tyson in the first round certainly gives the Saints some flexibility if they can’t come to an agreement with their No. 1 receiver, but of course they would rather have both Tyson and Olave around for quarterback Tyler Shough going forward. Olave had a career-high 1,163 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2025 after missing half of 2024 because of injuries,” Schatz wrote.
“In 2024, he scored a fantastic 76 out of 100 in the ESPN receiver scores; last season, that dropped to 62, but that still put Olave among the top 20 receivers. He was a second-team All-Pro and probably deserves an extension similar to the one Atlanta just gave Drake London, who was drafted three picks ahead of Olave in 2022.”
This story will be updated.
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Michael Kaskey-Blomain Michael Kaskey-Blomain is an experienced sports media member covering the NBA and NFL for Heavy. He has been in the industry for well over a decade with previous stops including the Philadelphia Inquirer and CBS Sports. Michael also serves as a Philadelphia 76ers reporter and insider for ESPN 97.3 and an NBA and NFL contributor for The Sporting News. More about Michael Kaskey-Blomain
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