New Orleans Saints Make Statement with 2022 First Round Picks

The New Orleans Saints are making moves that embody a franchise in rebuild mode. With a new regime of coaches led by Head Coach Kellen Moore and DC Brandon Stanley trying to get the team competitive, General Manager Mickey Loomis maintained two significant maneuvers during the team’s pre-draft press conference. The Saints will pick up the fifth-year option on standout Wide receiver Chris Olave but will not do it for Offensive Lineman Trevor Penning. Those are telling us a great deal about where the team is seeing its future—and perhaps where it doesn’t.

They arrive as Quarterback Derek Carr remains distant from the team regarding a shoulder problem, further fueling the uncertainty on the offense. Carr hasn’t been seen at the complex since April 11, and Loomis was cryptic with his timeline, only stating that the team “hoped to receive some clarity in the near future.” The Saints moving forward into the 2025 season and beyond, are showing a change of priorities in the new regime.

Penning’s Fifth-Year Option Declined: A Telltale Sign For the Offensive Line

The Saints’ failure to pick up Trevor Penning’s fifth-year option is a sign of dissatisfaction with the first-round draft pick’s development. Penning was drafted 19th overall in 2022 and was expected to be the cornerstone of the offensive line for years to come. Rather, streaky play, early-season injury woes, and a mid-2023 benching have all combined to spell out a poor start to his career. Though Penning bounced back in 2024 to play all 17 games at right tackle, it wasn’t sufficient to persuade the Saints to sign him for close to $17 million in 2026.

Penning, who will be 26 next month, is now entering a contract year. The Saints will certainly keep a close eye on how he performs. Taliese Fuaga’s 2024 draft selection already pushed Penning aside from the left tackle spot, cementing that his future in New Orleans is not yet certain. Loomis did sound as sure as ever of Penning, but deeds speak louder than words. Failing to pick up the option serves to ensure that the Saints, at least, are considering other long-term solutions at tackle.

The Saints selected Texas tackle Kelvin Banks Jr with the number nine overall pick to support the future of their offensive line.

Chris Olave Locks Up His Future In New Orleans

Despite a rocky 2024 season in which he was out for nine games due to concussions, the Saints are looking to Chris Olave as a linchpin of their offense. New Orleans exercised Olave’s fifth-year option, ensuring he stays under contract through the 2026 season for $15.49 million. That figure is at the lowest tier of the fifth-year structure, a casualty of Olave’s lost time and snap percentages. The signing indicates they believe his ceiling is higher than recent injury concerns.

Olave was a difference-maker the moment he took the field in 2022, posting consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career. With 191 catches for 2, 565 yards and 10 touchdowns in 39 games, he’s been a bright spot in an otherwise rollercoaster offense. He has played regardless of who’s under center—whether Andy Dalton or Carr—demonstrating flexibility and poise beyond his age. Going into his fourth season, Olave will be counted on to lead a reconfigured receiving corps now that it includes veteran Brandin Cooks and upstart Rashid Shaheed.

Kellen Moore and the Saints Begin Crafting Their New Identity

The Saints are recalibrating on offense with Moore, and their roster additions point toward a desire to fit talent into the scheme. Moore, the guru of explosive play ideas and attacking passing game philosophies, will utilize Olave’s route-running ability and vertical threat skills in a big way. Cooks, back with the Saints after nearly a decade, offers familiarity and quickness. Shaheed adds a dynamic skill set. This group fits Moore’s offense better than the Saints’ recent receivers.

On the offensive line front, the inability to lock up long-term with Penning and the recent lockup with Fuaga shows the team wants improved pass protection and scheme fit up front. Moore’s offense thrives given time for deeper route concepts to emerge, so rebuilding the line is essential. That may also translate into future draft picks or midseason trades if Penning doesn’t impress. That’s not Sean Payton’s Saints anymore—each choice points to this coaching era needing to build its foundation.

Last Thoughts: Saints Embracing the Future

The Saints’ recent signings of Olave and Penning are more than just contract moves—they are declarations of intent. In signing Olave, the Saints are investing in their receiving corps, showing confidence in his ability to be an elite receiver. Not exercising the option on Penning, on the other hand, is a vote of confidence in the front office’s discontent with his progress and opens the door for competition in 2025.

With Carr’s health in doubt and the team considering quarterback options in the draft, the Saints are building for potential change at the most important position. Moore’s signing is a promise of offensive rejuvenation, but only if the talent can keep up with his scheme. The decisions on Olave and Penning are the start of many as New Orleans sets off on a critical new era.