Former Ohio State Buckeyes star wide receiver cashes in on massive payday following contract extension with his NFL team
One of the better wide receivers to recently come out of the Ohio State Buckeyes program just got a massive new contract coming off a career year with his NFL team, and he will now be paid among the highest at his position.
Huge news for former Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver turned New Orleans Saints superstar Chris Olave. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, he has cashed in a 4-year contract extension worth up to $132 million with $90 million guaranteed. That $33 million per year average places him as the 6th highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL, and rightfully so because Olave is coming off his best season.
Chris Olave 2025 stats
Played in 16 games with the Saints.
- 100 receptions.
- 1,163 receiving yards.
- 9 touchdowns.
Why the Saints pulled the trigger on a deal
We’re talking about career highs in receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns, and yards per game. Olave was lights out across the board in 2025. Most importantly, he was durable, because in 2024, playing just eight games, he dealt with a long history of concussion issues. So this contract may be a little bit of a risk given that injury history.
The truth is, when Olave is on the football field, he is a dynamic threat. That’s especially true in the Saints offense run by offensive coordinator Kellen Moore with a young quarterback like Tyler Shough. New Orleans needs all the weapons it can get, and players they can build around — and that’s exactly what Olave provides. He is one of the cleanest, sharpest route runners in the entire NFL. What he can do on a down-in, down-out basis is truly remarkable.
A good deal for everyone involved
This is a solid outcome for both sides. The Saints and Shough lock up one of their best weapons on offense, giving the young quarterback a cornerstone piece to grow with in Moore’s system. For Olave, the deal cements his status among the league’s elite at the position.
Olave also joins a long list of Ohio State wide receivers who have cashed in recently. Jaxon Smith-Njigba secured his extension just this offseason, and in years past, guys like Garrett Wilson and Terry McLaurin have landed significant deals of their own. The Buckeyes’ wide receiver pipeline continues to produce NFL stars who earn top-of-market money.
I believe the guaranteed money signals New Orleans’ confidence that the concussion concerns are behind him. If Olave can stay healthy, the Saints got themselves a franchise-caliber weapon at a fair price. Locking him up now before the receiver market climbs even higher was the smart play for a team building around its young core.