New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis held a press conference just a day before the 2025 NFL Draft kicks off in Green Bay. With it, he deflected a questions about quarterback Derek Carr. Instead, he repeatedly noted that it was a draft press conference.
Loomis made a key announcement regarding the future of two players that are expected to play an important role for HC Kellen Moore this season, in all likelihood.
Saints exercise fifth-year option on Chris Olave
During Loomis' presser on Wednesday, he revealed some notable news on the future of Chris Olave. The Saints will exercise the fifth-year option on Olave, one of the most dynamic young playmakers when healthy.
Olave, 6-1, 188, who will be a fourth-year NFL veteran in 2025, has played in 39 games with 28 starts for New Orleans. He has caught 191 passes for 2,565 yards (13.4 avg.) with ten touchdowns, leading the team in both receptions and receiving yards in each of his first two seasons. In 2024, Olave started all eight games he played in and caught 32 passes for 400 yards (12.5 avg.) with one touchdown. -- New Orleans Saints
Saints decline fifth-year option on Trevor Penning
On the flip-side, Trevor Penning was also a first-round pick during Olave's draft class. New Orleans will decline his fifth-year option, according to Loomis.
The decision on Penning does echo a potential outcome for early in this year's draft. Many mock drafts have the Saints taking another offensive tackle at ninth overall. That player could replace Penning in the long-term plans for Kellen Moore's offensive unit.
I'll be interested to see if New Orleans attempts to move Penning inside to guard, if they take a round one OT for the second year in a row, too. Taliese Fuaga was impressive as a rookie last season.
