The New Orleans Saints are navigating a rebuild in their first year under coach Kellen Moore. They have just a 1-6 record entering Week 8 and figure to be in the running for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Could that prompt the Saints to be sellers at the NFL trade deadline? It would stand to reason New Orleans may want to get future assets for players who may not fit its timeline for contention.
While that will mostly apply to veterans like 36-year-old Demario Davis or players on one-year deals like Rashid Shaheed, the Saints could explore trading their top receiver, 25-year-old Chris Olave, if they get commensurate value for the 2022 first-round pick.
Olave is ‘being monitored’ by teams needing a wide receiver ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline, per Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz. That doesn’t necessarily guarantee the Saints will be willing to move the Ohio State product. They do have him under contract through the 2026 season after exercising his fifth-year option, after all.
Still, a trade certainly can’t be ruled out, especially if few teams emerge as legitimate sellers ahead of the deadline.
Where could Olave land if he is traded? Below is a look at the top options amid the trade rumors.
New York Giants
The Giants are expected to go ‘big-game hunting’ at receiver after losing Malik Nabers to a torn ACL, per SNY’s Connor Hughes. It’s easy to understand why, as the team is currently relying on Wan’Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton to lead their receiver group following Nabers’ injury.
Suffice to say that Olave would be a big upgrade as a top-end weapon for Jaxson Dart. He is a consistent playmaker when healthy and would profile as a strong long-term partner for Nabers. That could convince Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen, who remain on the hot seat, to swing a deal for the 25-year-old to try to turn around their 2-5 season.
New England Patriots
The Patriots are going ‘to take a long-term view’ at the trade deadline while assessing their roster, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported in a recent appearance on NBC Sports Boston. That would seemingly put Olave firmly in play for the franchise.
The Patriots have gotten strong production out 31-year-old Stefon Diggs and downfield threat Kayshon Boutte, but they could use a potential No. 1 wideout to develop alongside Drake Maye. Olave, who started his career with consecutive 1,000-yard seasons before an injury-plagued 2024 season, would provide that.
New England also has an NFL-high $55 million in cap space, per OverTheCap.com. The team could use those financial resources to land the proven, young wideout and extend him. That would go a long way toward finishing the transformation of the Patriots’ receiving corps from a weakness into a strength.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills are another AFC East team that could use a potential No. 1 receiver. Josh Allen has fared well using tight end Dalton Kincaid and slot-man Khalil Shakir as his top weapons, but adding a versatile, inside-outside threat like Olave could bring Buffalo’s passing game to the next level.
Brandon Beane was aggressive in trading for Amari Cooper to help Buffalo’s receiving corps ahead of the 2024 NFL trade deadline. He could take a similar approach if a player like Olave becomes available.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are ‘in the market for a receiver,’ according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The team made two big-time trades at the position during the offseason, acquiring DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks and sending George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, but could look to acquire another player to play across from Metcalf.
Olave would be a strong fit, as he has the versatility needed to play both in the slot and on the outside for the Steelers. Pittsburgh could then move the two talented receivers around to create mismatches while shifting Calvin Austin III into a more appropriate role as a speed-based No. 3 receiver.
The Steelers likely want to go all-in with 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers playing on a one-year deal. They could be motivated to swing a big-time deal to get the receiving upgrade they so desperately need after Pittsburgh saw its non-Metcalf receivers rack up just 16 receptions across the first seven weeks of the season.
Philadelphia Eagles
Never count Howie Roseman out in the NFL trade market. The Eagles have typically been one of the NFL’s most active teams when it comes to trades during his tenure, and Olave could pique his interest as the 25-yera-old finishes out his rookie contract.
The Eagles have a strong receiver duo of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith on the roster, but Philadelphia has seemingly been on an endless quest to find a high-quality No. 3 receiver. Olave would provide them that and could also open the door for a future Brown trade, as the 28-year-old veteran has appeared disgruntled at times during the 2025 NFL season.
Either way, Olave’s salary for the remainder of 2025 is manageable while his 2026 value of just under $15.5 million is more than reasonable for a player with his skillset.