Chris Olave leaned on several people in his inner circle while working through the biggest contract negotiation of his career. Former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas was one of those people, offering advice to Olave throughout a process that ultimately ended with the most lucrative extension in franchise history.
Thomas took Olave under his wing shortly after the Saints selected him in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Their relationship continued beyond the field, with the two receivers training together in Los Angeles during Olave’s first two offseasons.
“Mike T. has been a great leader to me,” Olave told reporters on Friday. “When I first got here, he took me in. We worked out in the offseason in L.A. the first two years,
so he put me on to all the little advantages I could gain off the field—with the chef, what I’m putting into my body and all the training room stuff.”
Thomas’ guidance became even more valuable when Olave entered unfamiliar territory during negotiations with the Saints. Olave remained in constant contact with Thomas throughout the process, which ended with a landmark four-year extension worth up to $132 million.
“Even in this situation with the contract, I was calling him damn near every day, leaning on him, and he gave me great advice,” Olave said. “I always got respect for him forever.”
Thomas was not the only veteran that Olave consulted. Saints running back Alvin Kamara and Washington Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin also helped him understand how to handle a major contract negotiation without allowing it to become a distraction.
Olave ultimately chose to keep the negotiations private and avoid creating tension around the team. He said an agreement was close when training camp opened, but both sides needed a final push to finish the deal. Olave participated only in individual drills during the first two days of training camp as negotiations approached the finish line. With the extension completed, he was a full participant Friday, taking the field alongside first-round wide receiver Jordyn Tyson during team drills.
Now, the focus pivots back to the football side of things. The Saints are in position to seize the NFC South; the Carolina Panthers have been stung by the injury bug, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are dealing with significant organizational tension, and the Atlanta Falcons are still unsure who their Week 1 starting quarterback will be. Olave will be a big part of writing that story and its something that he understands.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Chris Olave says former Saints WR helped him navigate contract talks
