The New Orleans Saints will likely sell at the trade deadline, and wide receiver Chris Olave is one of the most enticing players on their roster. A first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Ohio State product quickly established himself as the top option in this passing attack and never relinquished the role. While he has battled injuries throughout the course of his career, he’s stayed healthy in 2025, recording 33 receptions for 244 yards and one touchdown on 54 targets.
Playing in his age-25 season, Olave has one more year of team control after 2025 before he becomes a free agent. This should make him valuable for a team on the rise, and New Orleans probably can’t afford to re-sign him given their salary cap woes. The Saints should get a good draft pick in a Chris Olave trade, and Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox believes the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers should target him.
Steelers, Patriots Could Trade For Chris Olave
The Pittsburgh Steelers are all-in on the 2025 season and spent the past few months building a roster that could actually win a playoff game. While Aaron Rodgers doesn’t look like his MVP self, offseason additions like D.K. Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey have paid off. The Steelers sit comfortably atop the AFC North with a 3-1 record, thanks largely to these additions and the injuries ravaging the division rivals. Barring a collpase, this team should make the playoffs, but they could struggle to match up against the elite teams of the AFC.
This is where a Chris Olave trade could help. Rodgers is no longer capable of leading a high-powered offense all by himself, so they need to give him more support. While Metcalf has played well, the rest of the depth chart has not held up their end of the bargain. If he can stay healthy, he might give this team the firepower they need to make their first deep playoff run since 2016.
The Rising Patriots
The New England Patriots are ahead of schedule in their rebuild. Second-year quarterback Drake Maye already looks like one of the game’s best young passers, rookie Will Campbell is leading a surprisingly strong offensive line, and Stefon Diggs looks like his old self. This team should make the playoffs given their 3-2 record and weak remaining schedule, but they could establish themselves as legitimate contenders with a Chris Olave trade.
As things currently stand, the Patriots passing attack ranks sixth in the league in EPA/play on passing plays. This is obviously fantastic, especially since Diggs is the only receiver who threatens a defense. Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas are fine role players, but Olave would give New England two legitimate threats on every single play. There is no bigger competitive advantage than a franchise quarterback on a rookie contract, and New England must maximize their window of opportunity. The team can afford to trade for Olave and give him an extension, provided the team feels comfortable with his long-term health.
Main Photo: Bob Donnan – Imagn Images
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