The New Orleans Saints finally locked in their WR1 under contract, giving him an extension that keeps him on the team until 2030. Olave’s deal is worth up to $132 million with $90 million in guarantees.
With his extension, the 2022 first-round pick becomes the sixth highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. Above him are Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ja’Marr Chase, Drake London, Justin Jefferson, and CeeDee Lamb. Olave is also the final of the 2022 first-round wide receivers who are with the team that drafted
them to receive a contract extension, so how does the former Buckeye’s new contract stack up against his draft class?
WR Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson was the first of the wide receivers taken in the 2022 NFL Draft to sign an extension. Ahead of the 2025 NFL season, the Jets signed Wilson to a four-year $130 million deal.
The Jets’ standout receiver has an average annual value of $32.5 million. When Wilson signed his contract, everyone in the Saints community paid attention. Wilson’s contract would be the blueprint for New Orleans when it was time to pay their star. Fittingly, the Saints signed Olave to a similar deal, with Olave squeaking out an extra $500,00 a year, earning $33 million annually.
The former Buckeye teammates have had similar experiences in their young careers. Both were drafted to struggling franchises with questions at quarterback, yet each wideout has found success in the league. In his four seasons with New York, Wilson has accumulated 3,644 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns in 58 games. Olave, who has appeared in 55 games, just edges out Wilson with 3,728 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns.
Length: 4 years
Total Value: $130 million
AAV: $32.5 million
Guaranteed: $90 million
WR Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London was the first of the wideouts taken in the 2022 NFL Draft, and he is fittingly the highest-paid, getting a four-year $141 million contract earlier in the offseason.
London’s deal came as a surprise. While the 6-foot-4 wideout has been solid in his early career, he’s only gone over 1,000 receiving yards once, achieving 1,271 yards in 2024. While the Falcons’ wideout has had the best single-season of his fellow 2022 draftees, he hasn’t been as consistent. London went for 919 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2025 before earning his contract.
What London has been able to do that Olave and Wilson haven’t, however, is remain healthy. The former eighth overall pick appeared in 12+ games each season and has played in 16+ games in each of his first three years. In 62 games, London has logged 3,961 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns, both the most of any other 2022 wideouts.
Length: 4 years
Total Value: $141,054,000
AAV: $35,263,599
Guaranteed: $99,871,000
WR Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions followed quickly behind the Jets to extend their star wideout, signing Jameson Williams to a three-year $83 million deal with $67 million guaranteed just a month later.
Similarly to Londo’s, Williams extension came as a surprise. The former Alabama wideout only achieved a single 1,000-yard season before signing his deal, logging just 395 yards total in his first two years. But the Lions didn’t go all in on Williams. While he earned a significant payday, 17 wide receivers earn more annually than the former first-round pick. With Amon-Ra St. Brown on the roster, Detroit only had to give Williams WR2 money rather than paying him as their first option.
Williamson has become electric since signing his deal, however. Over his last two seasons, he’s logged back-to-back 1,000+ yard campaigns and scored 14 touchdowns in that span. Despite his productive last two seasons, the star wideout is behind his fellow draft class in receiving yards, logging 2,513 in four seasons.
Length: 3 years
Total Value: $80 million
AAV: $26,666,667
Guaranteed: $66.58 million
The 2022 NFL Draft class was wide receiver-heavy. While other first-round receivers such as Jahan Dotson and Treylon Burks couldn’t find as much success as their counterparts, the wide picks that landed were hits.
Olave’s deal makes him the second-highest-paid wide receiver in his draft class, and he’s earned it. Through their first four seasons, Olave has the second-most receiving yards and touchdowns in that span. While health has remained a concern, a growing connection with second-year quarterback Tyler Shough means New Orleans had to lock their star receiver up on a significant contract.
