Chris Olave Steelers trade buzz erupted Thursday morning when Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan tweeted:
“The Steelers are working on a trade for Saints WR Chris Olave. Per @adamcrowley. Wow.”
Adam Crowley, also of 93.7 The Fan, followed up with:
“To be clear. I had someone who would be in the know text me “Chris Olave.”
That instantly fueled speculation about a possible connection between Chris Olave and the Steelers. It also hinted that Pittsburgh may finally address its glaring need at wide receiver.
A Chris Olave Steelers Trade Would Fill WR2 Hole
After recently trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, the Steelers are left with a clear hole at the WR2 position. They already made this mistake last year. After dealing Diontae Johnson, they never found a legit second option behind George Pickens.
The result? A predictable, low-scoring offense. The team was designed to just scrape by in tight games, but struggled to play from behind or win shootouts. The Steelers failed to score more than 17 points in the final four games of their season last year, which was also a four-game losing streak.
With Arthur Smith now calling plays and the quarterback spot unsettled, the Steelers can’t afford to repeat that mistake. Adding a proven talent like Chris Olave is a must.
Olave’s Production Speaks For Itself
Olave was drafted 11th overall by the New Orleans Saints in 2022. He’s been productive since day one. As a rookie, he posted 72 catches for 1,042 yards and four touchdowns. In 2023, he improved with 87 catches for 1,123 yards and five scores.
Though injuries limited him in 2024, he’s totaled 191 catches, 2,565 yards, and 10 touchdowns in just 39 games in his young career. He’s polished, explosive, and would thrive in Pittsburgh’s offense behind DK Metcalf.
Concussion History Could Complicate Trade
Durability is the concern. Olave has suffered four concussions in three seasons, including two in 2024. That ended his year on injured reserve. If the price is right, the Steelers won’t be afraid to pull the trigger as they have a lot of draft capital.
The talent is there. However, the Chris Olave Steelers trade talks must factor in long-term health risk.
Main Image: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
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