Canal Street Chronicles
When looking around the New Orleans Saints roster, there are some players who stand out as candidates for contract extensions soon. Some players are in the midst of those conversations, and others may need to start having those discussions.
So, let’s look at some of the Saints’ players who should be getting extensions soon.
The timing of contract extensions is interesting: getting it done as early as possible is smart before the market rises, but doing it too early could be risky if the player’s ability declines or there are injuries. Then waiting might be necessary if those discussions between the player and the team are not going anywhere. Teams also decide to wait to make sure they want to extend the player.
The Saints tend to wait longer than other teams, and this has made the Chris Olave situation very interesting. Since the end of the season, it has been known that the Saints will be extending their star WR. Olave’s main issue was his injury history, which can still be a factor in these contract conversations, but given his chemistry with Tyler Shough, he is the present and future at WR.
Realistically, the contract extension will happen before the season starts, but it’s going to get very interesting if the conversations carry into the season.
One of the top question marks on the roster has been at EDGE, but not because of Chase Young. When Young was out last season, the Saints’ pass rush was a major weakness for the defense, but when he came back, the difference was noticeable. Young showed how much attention defenses needed to give to him, and for the first time in his career, Young finished with double-digit sacks.
Currently, Young is on a very good contract with the Saints, but an extension will be needed soon. His contract runs through 2027, and when that happens, Young will be turning 28. With a cap hit of $17 million in a 2028 void year, getting an extension done will save the Saints from a massive cap hit, but it may also be smarter to do it sooner rather than later. The better Young plays, the more expensive that contract is going to get, and although an early deal may be risky, it may also be the smarter move.
Unlike the Olave situation, this does not have a clear answer to when the Saints should get the extension done.
