If you’ve been watching the New Orleans Saints lately, you know Chris Olave is basically the only thing keeping that offense explosive. It’s early 2026, and looking back at the 2022 draft class, few wideouts have been as consistently productive despite some truly questionable quarterback play. For collectors, the chris olave rookie card market has been a bit of a roller coaster. We’ve seen him battle through concussions and even a weird blood clot scare at the end of the 2025 season, yet he still managed to post his third 1,000-yard season in four years.
That kind of resilience is rare.
He’s 25 now. Entering his prime. The Saints just picked up his fifth-year option for 2026, which is going to cost them a cool $15.49 million. That’s a massive vote of confidence from the front office, and it’s why people are still digging through Prizm boxes and eBay listings for his early stuff.
What Makes the Chris Olave Rookie Card Market Move?
Market value in the hobby usually follows a simple formula: talent + team success + scarcity. Olave has the talent. He finished 2025 with exactly 100 receptions and 1,163 yards. The team success? Well, that’s been harder to come by in New Orleans. But from a pure card perspective, his 2022 issues remain the "gold standard" for his legacy.
When you’re looking at a chris olave rookie card, you’re mostly looking at 2022 Panini products. Because Panini held the exclusive NFL license back then, everything from the base Donruss "Rated Rookie" to the high-end National Treasures RPA (Rookie Patch Auto) is what people crave.
Prices aren't what they were during the 2021-2022 boom. Thank goodness. The market has cooled, which actually makes it a lot more fun for real fans to buy in without needing a second mortgage. You can find a standard 2022 Silver Prizm for a fraction of what it would have cost two years ago, but the high-grade "1 of 1" stuff still fetches thousands.
The Big Three: Prizm, Optic, and Select
If you’re serious about collecting, you basically live in these three sets.
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Panini Prizm: This is the backbone of the hobby. A 2022 Prizm Silver or a low-numbered parallel like the Mojo or Gold is the "true" rookie most investors want. If it's a PSA 10, it's a liquid asset you can sell in ten minutes on any major platform.
Donruss Optic: Everyone loves the "Rated Rookie" logo. It’s iconic. Olave’s Optic Holo or the "Downtown" insert—which features him with New Orleans imagery—are some of the most visually stunning cards out there.
Panini Select: These are great because they have three different tiers: Concourse, Premier Level, and Field Level. The Field Level Silver Prizms are the rarest of the base-style cards and usually hold their value better than the lower tiers.
Surprising Facts About Olave's Early Cards
A lot of people forget that Olave was part of a loaded Ohio State receiving corps with Garrett Wilson. In the hobby, Wilson often got the early hype, but Olave’s "Smooth" playstyle has given him a longer tail in terms of hobby interest.
Did you know his first "cards" weren't even in Saints gear?
If you look at 2022 Bowman University or Panini Chronicles Draft Picks, he’s still in his Buckeyes jersey. These are technically "XRCs" or pre-rookie cards. Generally, they sell for about 30-50% less than the ones where he's wearing the Black and Gold. Collectors just prefer the pro uniforms. It’s a weird quirk of the hobby, but it's been true for decades.
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High-End Chasing: The 1-of-1s
We’ve seen some crazy sales lately. For instance, a 2022 Panini Absolute Kaboom! (Horizontal) recently surfaced on the market for around $650. Then you have the absolute monsters—the Black Finite Prizms or the Shield Autos from National Treasures. These rarely hit the open market. When they do, it's usually through a private auction house like Goldin or Heritage.
Honestly, unless you've got a massive budget, those are out of reach. But they set the ceiling for the "lower" cards. If a 1-of-1 sells for $5,000, your /25 Orange Prizm suddenly looks like a steal at $250.
Grading: Is It Still Worth It?
This is where people get stuck. Should you grade your chris olave rookie card?
In 2026, the answer is "only if it's perfect." The days of grading every base card are over. If you have a 2022 Prizm Silver and it looks slightly off-center, keep it raw. PSA 9s often sell for less than the cost of the grading fee plus the raw card value.
But, if you have a high-end parallel—say a Red, White, and Blue or a Blue Ice /99—and it looks pristine? Grade it. A PSA 10 "Gem Mint" grade can double or triple the value of the card compared to a raw copy. Just be picky. Look at the corners. Check the surface for those tiny "dimples" that Panini Prizm is famous for.
The Concussion Concern and Future Outlook
You can't talk about Olave without mentioning the health stuff. He had two concussions in 2024 that really scared the Saints staff. They actually shut him down for the end of that season. Then, the blood clot issue at the end of 2025.
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Investors hate uncertainty.
When news of the lung issue broke in early January 2026, some people panicked and dumped their collections. That created a buying opportunity. Olave is young, and the medical reports suggest the clot was caught early and is manageable. If he comes out in 2026 and puts up another 1,200-yard season with whoever the Saints have at QB, those "panic sellers" are going to feel pretty silly.
How to Buy Smart Right Now
If you're looking to add an Olave to your personal collection, stop looking at "Base" cards. There are millions of them. They won't ever be rare.
Instead, look for:
- On-card autographs: Avoid the sticker autos if you can. Contenders "Rookie Ticket" is the gold standard for autographs.
- Short Prints (SPs): Cards like the "Case Hits"—Kaboom, Downtown, or Color Blast.
- Low-numbered parallels: Anything /99 or less.
Go to local card shows. Talk to dealers. Often, you can trade two or three mid-tier cards for one "big" Olave card. It’s better to have one $300 card than ten $30 cards.
The chris olave rookie card is a play on pure talent. He isn't a "hype" player anymore; he’s a proven veteran. As the Saints rebuild their identity post-Drew Brees (it's taking a while, isn't it?), Olave is the centerpiece. If they ever land a top-tier QB, his card prices could legitimately double overnight.
Actionable Steps for Collectors
Start by auditing what you already have. Use a site like 130Point to check recent "Sold" listings on eBay to get a real-world price, not just an asking price. If you’re buying, stick to licensed Panini products from 2022. Avoid the "custom" cards or unlicensed Leaf products if you care about resale value; they just don't hold up as well. Lastly, if you’re buying for the long haul, focus on "Refractor" or "Prizm" technology—it's what the hobby has decided is the most desirable.
Check the centering on any 2022 Prizm before buying. That year was notorious for being shifted too far to the left or right, and a "miscut" card will never get that PSA 10 premium you're looking for.