New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave and his brother subtly hinted at a trade request earlier in the season, and the latest move suggests one may be coming in the offseason. Olave suffered his second concussion of the season back in Week 9, going up for a hospital ball from Derek Carr that, at the time, seemed to signal the end of his season. However, the former first-round pick is practicing and could suit up for Sunday’s showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders.
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Olave suffered two concussions in 2024 alone, so one must wonder why the Saints are bringing him back and risking re-injury. The team is already out of the playoffs, interim head coach Darren Rizzi will not retain the job, and quarterback Derek Carr will miss the contest with an injury of his own. By all accounts, the team should be focused on 2025, so playing Olave in a meaningless game doesn’t make much sense.
The only way this decision makes sense is if the team plans on trading Chris Olave in the offseason. The Ohio State product is remarkably talented and a legitimate WR1, but injury concerns could destroy his trade value. By having him suit up for the final two games of the season, New Orleans could show the league that he is healthy and could fetch a larger return. While concussion concerns will follow him for the duration of his time in the NFL, these five teams could roll the dice on him.
Saints Could Trade Chris Olave Following Return From Concussion
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots have their quarterback of the future in UNC’s Drake Maye. Now, they need to fix the rest of the roster. While the offensive line will likely be the top priority, New England must find wide receivers better than Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte. The Patriots currently hold the second-overall pick in the draft, so perhaps they could trade that selection to the quarterback-needy Saints for Chris Olave and their first-round pick.
Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh has the team in the playoffs, but the team must add more pass-catching talent to be a legitimate contender. Second-round pick Ladd McConkey is a star in the making, but the Chargers need more firepower to match up with the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens. Seeing as the team tried to acquire Diontae Johnson, it’s safe to assume Los Angeles will try to upgrade the receiver position during the offseason.
Kansas City Chiefs
The likelihood of a Chris Olave trade is directly related to what happens with Rashee Rice. First-round pick Xavier Worthy is finally coming into his own and if Rice returns, these two will be a reliable duo for a great quarterback like Patrick Mahomes. However, Rice must still face league discipline for his offseason car crash. If he is suspended for most or all of the 2025 season, the Chiefs could use a high-ceiling playmaker like Olave to make their passing attack the most dangerous unit in football.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Russell Wilson will probably be back next year, which is bittersweet news for the Steelers. While he’s better than former quarterback Kenny Pickett, he’s not the same guy who terrified the league with the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson needs more help to reach his ceiling, and George Pickens alone cannot get him there. Combining Pickens with Olave will give the Steelers one of the best receiver duos in football, which should be enough to get the most out of Wilson.
Baltimore Ravens
The Diontae Johnson trade failed miserably, which means the Ravens will probably look for wide receiver help in the offseason. Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman are adequate receivers, but there’s room for improvement. Adding Olave to the mix will give Baltimore three receivers capable of consistently getting open, which will only make life easier for MVP candidate Lamar Jackson. Factor in Derrick Henry’s rushing ability and you have what could be the league’s most unstoppable offense.
Main Photo: Gary A. Vasquez – USA Today Sports
