Chris Olave finds himself in a far-from-ideal situation with the New Orleans Saints. The wide receiver, still on his rookie contract, is coming off an injury and entering a contract year amid a franchise overhaul, especially at the quarterback position.
With Derek Carr’s retirement and one of the weakest quarterback groups in the NFL, teams have started inquiring about a potential trade for Olave. That includes a playoff team from last season that has already made two moves in the wide receiver market this offseason.
Pittsburgh Steelers Inquired About Chris Olave
No team has been more active in the WR market this offseason than the Pittsburgh Steelers. The two headline moves involved both the addition and departure of key receivers, decisions that some have even called contradictory, given the lack of a clear starting quarterback for 2025.
DK Metcalf was acquired via trade from the Seattle Seahawks even before free agency began. Pittsburgh sent a second-round pick in exchange for the receiver and then extended his contract for four years at $132 million. Shortly after the draft, the team traded its other top receiver, George Pickens, to the Dallas Cowboys, a move that sparked debate over the franchise’s overall strategy.
Currently, the Steelers’ projected starting QB for this upcoming season is veteran Mason Rudolph, with Will Howard viewed as a developmental project. The looming presence of Aaron Rodgers in the division only adds more complexity to the Steelers’ plans, because with such a significant investment in a wide receiver, they need a quarterback capable of getting him the ball consistently. That’s why everything remains so uncertain.
Amid this situation, Nick Farabaugh reported that the franchise had reached out to the Saints to inquire about Olave’s availability. However, the call was described as nothing more than a check-in, and a move is considered unlikely. Still, it highlights that Pittsburgh isn’t fully satisfied with the current group of receivers on the roster.
Even so, an Olave trade would be an admission that the Saints’ front office failed to build a post-Drew Brees plan to keep the franchise competitive. New Orleans’ cap situation constantly forces the team into a cycle of drafting and developing talent, only to watch those players walk in free agency due to a lack of financial flexibility.
In his first two seasons, Olave surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each season and scored nine touchdowns. Last season, he dealt with concussions that limited him to just eight games. Still, he remains the most talented piece in the offense alongside Alvin Kamara, and a key weapon who could help rookie quarterback Tyler Shough develop at the NFL level.
The truth is that both New Orleans and Pittsburgh have complicated and somewhat confusing outlooks, but for different reasons. While the Saints are fighting to stabilize the franchise financially, the Steelers are trying to finally escape the mediocrity that has haunted them in recent years, and the 2025 outlook for both teams isn’t exactly promising.