Being in the first year of a rebuild and only having five draft picks in 2025, the New Orleans Saints must make moves by the NFL Trade Deadline. The front office has a variety of potential trade-away candidates, but the position that has been the subject of many rumors is the WRs.
The three options New Orleans can choose from and have been rumored are Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and Brandin Cooks.
Olave Trade Option
At first, it seemed like the former first-round selection would be the likely choice due to his projected expensive contract, his status as the most valuable asset, and his play not being WR1-caliber this season. But in recent weeks, the tides have shifted, and the Saints are now likely to keep Olave and work out an extension. That leaves speed threat Rashid Shaheed and Veteran Brandin Cooks as the other choices.
Shaheed Trade Option
Compared to Cooks, Shaheed is going to command a better value on the trade market. He is a speed threat who has gained muscle over the offseason to make more catches in traffic, which he has done, and is an ideal WR2 on many teams.
New Orleans will be asking for a third-round pick in return, and it’s doubtful they do a trade for anything less. This demand is due to the compensatory pick system. Shaheed will be a free agent after this season, and if he hits the open market, there is a very good chance the contract he signs will net the Saints a third-round comp pick in the 2027 draft.
Potential trade partners: Broncos, Giants, and Bills
If the rumors are true that the Bills are calling the Saints on Rashad Shaheed I would be extremely underwhelmed.
He’d be our 4th WR2.
Might as well just force Josh Allen to establish chemistry with Samuel/Moore. pic.twitter.com/5AAdBQxJAs
— Dan Mitchell (@realdanmitchell) October 28, 2025
Cooks Trade Option
This past offseason, the Saints signed Cooks to a two-year contract, which, at the time, was a bit confusing. Due to the type of game the veteran brings to a receiver room, it is incredibly similar to what Olave and Shaheed already do. Even further, the Saints traded a fourth-round pick for former Denver Broncos WR Devaughn Vele, who is a better complement to other WRs.
The return for Cooks will not be much, but getting an extra day-three pick is still crucial for a team that needs young talent.
