Seriously, if you’re a Saints fan, your eyes need to be glued to Chris Olave this 2026 season. According to Larry Holder over at The Athletic, Olave, hands down, has the most to prove out of anyone on that New Orleans roster. It’s not about Tyler Shough, Travis Etienne Jr., David Edwards, or Jordyn Tyson, who were all brought in to boost the offense. No, it’s Olave who’s under the brightest spotlight, and it’s all about proving 2025 wasn’t a fluke and putting those injury concerns to bed.
Olave’s 2025 Breakout: The Numbers Demanding a Payday
Look, the dude was electric in 2025. He put up his best season yet for the Saints, straight up crushing it with 100 receptions, a massive 1,163 yards, and nine touchdowns. Those are some elite numbers, career-highs across the board, including a beastly 62-yard reception and 156 targets. You gotta give credit where it’s due: his connection with quarterback Tyler Shough was clearly working. When a receiver hits those kinds of stats, especially career-highs in every major category, you expect that monster contract to follow. We’ve heard all the talk about an extension this offseason, but nothing’s sealed yet. Olave is staring down a contract that could be around $30 million per season, and man, he needs to back up that price tag.
The Ghosts of 2024 and The Pressure Cooker of 2026
But here’s the thing, and it’s a big one: Olave missed over half of the 2024 NFL season because of injuries. That’s a huge red flag, no sugarcoating it. There’s real lingering concern about his health, and honestly, some worry that his 2025 breakout was a one-time deal. It doesn’t even matter if he signs that extension before the season, during it, or after. For Olave, the mission is simple: stay healthy for all of 2026, if humanly possible, and put up those same elite numbers again. He’s a 2022 first-rounder, and he absolutely has to show he deserves that hefty new contract. This is his season to either cash in big or leave questions unanswered.
For Olave, every snap in 2026 carries the weight of a potential $30 million deal and the reputation of being a consistent, top-tier receiver in the league. The Saints’ future, and Olave’s bank account, depend on him silencing the doubters and showing that 2025 was just the beginning.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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