Details On Saints’ New Chris Olave Extension

Details have since emerged on Olave’s new contract, which includes $90.01MM in total guarantees (via OverTheCap). $52.653MM is fully guaranteed at signing, comprised of a $35MM signing bonus and guaranteed salaries and per-game roster bonuses in 2026 and 2027. The remaining guarantees – all $23MM of his salary in 2028 and $13MM of his $27MM salary in 2029 – vest on the third day of their respective league years.

It is worth noting that New Orleans had previously picked up Olave’s fifth-year option for 2026, valued at $15.493MM, so the new money guarantee only comes out to $37.16MM. The extension also drops his 2026 cap hit from that fifth-year option price to $9.573MM. As his salary rises in subsequent years, his cap hits will grow to $22MM in 2027, $31.36MM in 2028, $35.36MM in 2029, and $41.12MM in 2030.

Those numbers remaining stagnant through the duration of the deal would be somewhat of a surprise. The Saints frequently restructure their players’ contracts to push cap obligations into the future, often using void years. Their once-dire financial situation has stabilized, but they may still want to restructure Olave’s deal next offseason to open up more money for free agency.

Olave’s injury history was a factor in his negotiations, explaining the Saints’ inclusion of $1.36MM in per-game roster bonuses in each year of the deal, including 2026. The 26-year-old will earn $80k for each game he is active, according to ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. He has played 55 of the Saints’ 68 regular-season games since being drafted with the No. 11 pick in the 2022 draft.

Additionally, Olave can receive another $8MM in escalators from 2027 to 2030 for first-team All-Pro selections, Pro Bowls, 1,200 receiving yards, 101 receptions, and 10 receiving touchdowns. Accomplishing any will increase his salary by $400k for the following season.

In other Saints contract news, Alvin Kamara‘s revised deal includes a base salary reduction to $6MM with $3.5MM guaranteed (via Terrell). Another $2.5MM is available via incentives for combined rushing and receiving yards ($300k for 950, $300k for 1,050, and $400k for 1,150) and playoff wins (up to $1.5MM in $500k installments).

Defensive end Cameron Jordan‘s latest contract in New Orleans also features incentives, per Terrell. He can earn a maximum of $3.5MM, starting with $500k for five sacks and $750k for each additional one. This is a change from Jordan’s previous deal with the Saints, which included just $2MM in sack incentives with more money available for hitting certain playtime numbers.