New Orleans Saints standout wide receiver Chris Olave is undeniably talented, but is he better than George Pickens of the Dallas Cowboys? The jury is still out on that one, and ultimately, the money will do the talking.
Olave and the Saints have spoken regarding a contract extension. As of now, nothing is imminent. However, at least the two sides have apparently begun to exchange numbers — unlike Pickens and the Cowboys.
During the 2026 NFL Annual Meeting, Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones said a new deal with their dynamic wideout hasn't been discussed recently. Whether the Saints beat Dallas to the punch bears watching, because the latest intel suggests Olave may set a dangerously high floor for Pickens' negotiations.
The Dallas Cowboy risk behemoth George Pickens deal amid Chris Olave's contract talks with Saints
Coming off the most productive and (perhaps more notably) healthiest campaign of his young career, Olave is ostensibly looking to cash in. Meanwhile, New Orleans seems willing to make a significant investment in him. The Saints "haven't entirely balked at" ($) paying the Ohio State product $30 million annually, per NOLA.com's Matthew Paras, which is troublesome for Dallas.
The Saints "don't appear to have gotten there quite yet," according to Paras. Nevertheless, if Olave can potentially command such a lucrative salary without much pushback, what's Pickens worth? The answer to that question circles back to the opening sentence of this article.
Jones made it clear that he and the Cowboys have "long-term plans in mind for Pickens." But yesterday's price isn't today's going rate. The NFL market changes rapidly, and Olave's situation could complicate matters for Dallas.
Only three receivers are making at least $35 million per year, and nine hit the $30 million threshold, as Paras highlights. The Saints would effectively be putting their stamp on Olave as one of the 10 best players at his position. Pickens probably and rightfully sees himself as part of that group, maybe even a tier above as a top-five guy.
While Olave has established a safer floor since they both entered the league in 2022, Pickens' upside has proven to be higher. The latter showcased a truly elite ceiling in his first season with the Cowboys, finishing third in receiving yards (1,429). Moreover, the former's lengthy concussion history shouldn't be overlooked.
Yet, if there's anything we've learned about Jones, he doesn't mind overcompensating for letting contract chatter drag on.