New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave is one of the more talented young players in the league, but he could seek a trade in the offseason. Selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Ohio State product immediately made a name for himself, hauling in 72 receptions for 1,042 yards and four touchdowns primarily from Andy Dalton. Derek Carr joined the club in 2023, and Olave responded to the quarterback change by recording 87 receptions for 1,123 yards and five touchdowns.
Despite the strong production, behind-the-scenes whispers suggested that Olave wasn’t Carr’s biggest fan. These rumors grew in 2024, as concussions limited the wide receiver to just eight games in 2024. Following his latest, Olave’s brother tweeted several anti-Carr messages and suggested his brother would seek a trade in the offseason. Derek Carr is not the worst quarterback in the league, but he is one of the worst at protecting his wide receivers.
Quarterbacks like peak Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers excelled at putting the ball in places where their wide receivers could get it without getting destroyed by a safety. Carr lacks this ability, as he has thrown far more than his fair share of dangerous passes since entering the NFL in 2014. If Chris Olave wants to begin his career anew and seek a trade, the Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots could be ideal organizations for the Ohio State product. Daniel Cormier Displays Questionable Footwork As A Wide Receiver
Despite the strong production, behind-the-scenes whispers suggested that Olave wasn’t Carr’s biggest fan. These rumors grew in 2024, as concussions limited the wide receiver to just eight games in 2024. Following his latest, Olave’s brother tweeted several anti-Carr messages and suggested his brother would seek a trade in the offseason. Derek Carr is not the worst quarterback in the league, but he is one of the worst at protecting his wide receivers.
Quarterbacks like peak Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers excelled at putting the ball in places where their wide receivers could get it without getting destroyed by a safety. Carr lacks this ability, as he has thrown far more than his fair share of dangerous passes since entering the NFL in 2014. If Chris Olave wants to begin his career anew and seek a trade, the Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots could be ideal organizations for the Ohio State product.
Chargers, Patriots Could Trade For Chris Olave
The Los Angeles Chargers have an elite quarterback in Justin Herbert, and first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh has the team in playoff position. The future is bright for this organization, but they need another reliable option in the passing game to reach their full potential. Second-round pick Ladd McConkey is the real deal, recording a rookie-best 815 yards on the season. However, the rest of the depth chart leaves something to be desired. Quentin Johnston has yet to prove he can consistently be a part of this passing attack, while the rest of the squad is littered with uninspiring veterans and untested youngsters.
A Chris Olave trade would give the Chargers one of the best wide receiver duos in football. Harbaugh wants to win with a powerful run game, but you need to throw the ball when you share a division with the Kansas City Chiefs and a conference with the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, and Baltimore Ravens. Olave’s presence wouldn’t force the Chargers to abandon the run, but it would allow them to keep up in a shootout.
Helping Drake Maye
The Patriots have their quarterback of the future in third-overall pick Drake Maye. Now, they need to capitalize on his rookie window and their absurd amount of cap space by getting him the required weapons to succeed. The Patriots have arguably the league’s worst group of pass catchers, as DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte are nothing more than backup-caliber players and second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk is having a uniquely terrible rookie season. Outside of Maye and offensive lineman Mike Onwenu, every player on offense could be at risk of becoming a backup in 2025.
New England will probably prioritize the offensive line and a free agent like Tee Higgins once the 2025 league year starts, but that shouldn’t stop them from trying to trade for Chris Olave. New England should have a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, so perhaps they trade their first-round pick to the quarterback-desperate Saints for Olave and their first-round pick.
