Saints wide receiver Chris Olave said Friday on "The Up & Adams Show" that he wants to be in New Orleans for the long haul.
Olave, who has one year left on his rookie contract after this season and was the subject of trade rumors before the NFL's trade deadline Nov. 4, told host Kay Adams he and the team were working on a contract extension and that he was hopeful to stay with the Saints.
"It's in the works, it's in the works," Olave said. "I want to be in New Orleans forever.
"I know it's a tough time right now, but I love it out here. I love the people, I love the culture, I love the fans, and I love the new coaching staff and the front office. So we're in the works right now and hope it gets done soon, but like I said, I want to be here for my whole career."
Olave has 3,229 yards receiving and 14 touchdowns in 49 career games, including 664 yards (11th in the NFL) and four TDs this season. He's seventh in the NFL this season with 60 receptions. Olave, a first-round pick in 2022, missed much of his third season last year with concussion issues. Still, this summer the Saints exercised their fifth-year option on him.
He hopes that's just the beginning.
"It's just the city, you know, the culture," said Olave, who's from San Diego and went to Ohio State. "It's the background it brings. The food, the people. I just feel like it's home. I don't want to chase nothing like a ring or going to a good team.
"I feel like we can build that here, especially with a new coaching staff, Kellen Moore, everything he brings. I feel a shift in energy in the locker room and around the players. I feel like we're a lot closer, and it's only the first year, so I know it's going to take some time, but I can feel it happening soon. That's why I want to be here forever."
Olave did say he was disappointed to see the Saints trade wide receiver Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks at the deadline, although he understood it.
"That was my boy. We had come in together. It was tough when he got traded. He was one of my best friends on the team. We had been through the fire together. ... We leaned on each other, we pushed each other. He was like a brother to me. I'm excited for his new opportunity, though. I know he's gonna shine out there."
Otherwise, Olave praised Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, who helped New Orleans beat Carolina 17-7 in his second career start.
"He's so poised back there," Olave said. "He prepares with the best of them. The way he prepares, he's so ready to go into the game. He knows everything, all the different looks, all the coverages they're gonna do. He knows all his reads from first to fourth. He does great in his scramble drill; he's faster than people realize, he can get out the pocket, and he keeps his eyes down the field when he's scrambling. That's a great trait to have in the NFL."
He also commented on Shough's 62-yard touchdown pass to Olave against Carolina.
"He can throw the deep ball really well," Olave said. "He's big, his deep-throw accuracy is crazy. And I'm excited going forward. That's one of the best parts of my game, so I'm excited to build that connection going forward."