The Browns and the Steelers both reached out the Saints regarding the availability of wide receiver Chris Olave this offseason, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
New Orleans rebuffed those overtures and doubled down on their commitment to the 2022 first-rounder by picking up his fifth-year option. That will keep Olave under contract through the 2026 season, during which he will earn a fully-guaranteed $15.5MM.
Cleveland and Pittsburgh have both been active in the wide receiver trade market over the last few years. The Browns brought in Amari Cooper in 2022 and Jerry Jeudy in 2024. (Cooper was later traded to the Bills at last season’s trade deadline.) The Steelers, meanwhile, sent a second-round pick to the Seahawks to acquire D.K. Metcalf this offseason and sent George Pickens to the Cowboys earlier this month.
Installing a new coaching staff tends to lead to player turnover as the roster is evaluated for fit with the incoming scheme. Between that and Olave’s down year in 2024, the Browns and the Steelers may have thought they could swoop in for a bargain.
However, the Saints declined to engage in trade talks for the 24-year-old wideout. That could be because new head coach Kellen Moore and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier see a major role for Olave in their passing attack. It could also be due to Olave’s lower trade value coming off a 400-yard season after he eclipsed 1,000 yards in each of his first two.
Picking up Olave’s fifth-year option indicates that the Saints believe he can bounce back in 2025, though he will have to adjust to a new coaching staff and a new quarterback, likely rookie Tyler Shough. If Olave returns to his top-25 production, he should be in line for an extension with a substantial raise next offseason.
Hard to picture an Olave trade coming together. How do you agree on a value for the guy? When he’s healthy he looks like an easy top 20 receiver in the league, the kind of guy who returns a first round pick in trade. But he also looks like he’s one wrong hit away from having to retire. Hard to trade a guy like that without getting a serious return, but hard to gamble on trading a serious return for him.
Trade him asap, if someone wants the risk, deal it and take a fresh start. His odds of getting knocked out and retired are higher than they are for him put enough games together to be a WR1. The Saints aren’t in a spot to compete this year or next, regardless of how bad that division is. Collect future value and wish him the best.
The real question is who is done first, him or Tua.
Tua’s been done. Dudes playing with fire at this point.
Idk if there 2026. He could have value to trade and saints get a first round guy next year
Can’t really blame them. Olave is a hell of a receiver when healthy.
So was Josh Gordon.
Health wasn’t his issue…
Ridiculous comparison.
The more accurate one is Percy Harvin.
Passing a drug test has to do with health, but whatever. You fools know what I was getting at. Lot of dudes “would be” great if they were healthy, not a drug addict, had their head on straight, it’s all the same.
So there are FA options available but the Steelers only seem interested in adding Olave?
Really baffled by the urgency in this FO.
I get they want to model the Eagles buy building the trenches, but you do need more than just trenches to win games
I’d be curious to know when in the offseason the Steelers inquired. If it was before the Metcalf move it’s completely understandable. Even afterwards makes some sense from a find out if they are selling crazy low standpoint.
But otherwise I agree with your sentiment. My guess is they want to completely solidify the trenches and then spend a couple drafts/FA on skill players. The other key factor being getting a long term answer at QB and then taking advantage of those first 3 years where they are on a cheap deal to pay the skill guys
How can you write this story without mentioning the concussions and that his “down” year was the result of playing in only eight games because of the injury?
I think it’s just assumed that if you drafted Olave for your fantasy league team you would be well aware of the problems he had last season.
Didn’t realize the story was about fantasy. The down year had nothing to do with talent. He missed nine games and parts of others because of injury. Just seems worth noting rather than implying he had a bad season. Just my thoughts.
Agreed. Something annoying I see in most sports media articles.
Like calling somebody a bust because he got injured and wasn’t the same after.