Three big non-draft questions for Saints at the NFL Combine

By Ross Jackson

While many of the conversations around the NFL Scouting Combine typically center around draft prospects, the multi-day event in Indianapolis serves as a center for many other developments around the league. For the New Orleans Saints, these three non-draft topics are sure to pick up steam over the week.

1. Will the Saints extend WR Chris Olave?

One of the biggest stories to watch this offseason will be whether or not the Saints and Olave land an agreement to extend him beyond his fifth-year option. If the two sides don’t land a deal before the season begins, there’s still a chance they do so over the course of the year or ahead of the 2027 offseason as Olave did have his fifth-year club option picked up last offseason.

Olave just wrapped up one of the best seasons for a Saints wideout in a number years wherein he became only the second all-time Saints player to record 100 or more catches in a single season and produced down the stretch at a high-level despite being the clear top option in the offense. All the while, he’s been vocal about his desire to remain in New Orleans and the conversations he’s been privy to relative to the contract talks.

An extension for Olave is likely to cost New Orleans at least $35 million per year, topping his draft class member and former Ohio State teammate Garrett Wilson’s $32.5 million extension with the New York Jets. There are likely to be many whispers about Olave’s negotiations status throughout the Circle City.

2. Will veteran defenders Demario Davis and Cameron Jordan be back?

The two defenders are coming off of big years in New Orleans with Davis setting a career high in combined tackles (143) and Jordan wrangling his first 10-sack season since 2021. These two are often tied together on the basis of age, but truly they should be considered in the same breath because of their outstanding production and undeniable leadership. Both players are important to the on-field, off-field and community products across the Crescent City. Keeping both for at least another season would be a smart move, but nuances and contract details have to be considered as well.

Indianapolis will likely serve as the neutral turf upon which extension talks, successful or otherwise, will at least get under way for both Davis’ and Jordan’s representation.

3. Will cornerback Alontae Taylor earn an outside corner role elsewhere?

Similarly, Taylor is another player New Orleans could look to extend before he becomes a free agent in March. However, the question isn’t really about the Saints’ interest. This one is a little more unique.

Taylor is a remarkably talented and disruptive slot corner, playing the “STAR” role in Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s system. He has also proven his value as an outside corner in the meanwhile, something he quickly showcased his rookie year lining up and managing well against elite talents like DeAndre Hopkins, Davante Adams and Mike Evans.

There’s a more than considerable chance that Taylor could land a boundary cornerback role elsewhere, which would come with outside cornerback money to boot.