Saints WR Chris Olave has most to prove in 2026 amid looming extension
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Saints WR Chris Olave has most to prove in 2026 amid looming extension originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This offseason for the New Orleans Saints has been all about surrounding Tyler Shough, after a promising rookie season, with talent to give him the best chance to become the team's franchise quarterback as possible.
Travis Etienne Jr., David Edwards, and Jordyn Tyson are the big-three additions this offseason meant to help Shough. But none of those players, or Shough, have the most to prove in 2026 for the Saints. That distinction goes to Chris Olave.
Whether he signs an extension or not before the 2026 season, Olave, according to Larry Holder of The Athletic, has the most to prove in 2026 of any Saints player. The reason is simple: he needs to prove 2025 wasn't a fluke, and that injury issues are truly behind him.
Chris Olave needs to prove he's worth an extension to Saints in 2026
"Olave is coming off his best season with the Saints last year with 100 receptions, 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns," Holder writes. "He'll need to maintain that pace, and stay healthy, to live up to a hefty payday."
While there's been plenty of talk about an Olave extension this offseason, it's yet to happen. But it doesn't matter whether that extension is agreed upon before, during, or after the 2026 season.
For Olave, he needs to prove with his 2026 season that he's deserving of such a lofty new contract that likely will pay him around $30 million or so per season.
Last season, he had a career-high in every major statistical category. On a career-high 156 targets, Olave caught 100 passes for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns. He also had a 62-yard reception, the longest of his career.
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Clearly, the pairing with Shough worked great. But, after missing over half of the 2024 NFL season due to injuries, there is still some lingering concern with Olave's health.
Also, there could be some worry that Olave's 2025 breakout season was a fluke. He needs to not only be healthy for all of 2026 if possible, but also put up elite numbers once again to prove he deserves a massive extension.
It doesn't matter if he's already signed a new contract extension before the season, or if he's in a contract year during 2026.
Olave needs to have a strong 2026 season, as Holder called out the 2022 first-rounder as the player with the most on the line in 2026 for the Saints.
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