Nothing To See Here: Chris Olave Isn't Going Anywhere

By any rational measure, trading Chris Olave would be a catastrophic misstep for the New Orleans Saints—a move that would signal the beginning of a full-scale rebuild, whether the franchise wants to admit it or not.

Olave isn’t just a good receiver—he’s the most important piece in a Saints offense that is already thin at the skill positions. At just 24 years old, Olave has established himself as the clear-cut No. 1 option in the passing game. In his first two seasons, he’s racked up over 2,000 receiving yards and has consistently been one of the few bright spots on a team struggling to find its post-Drew Brees identity.

Let’s be clear: the Saints need more receiving talent, not less. The offense lacks explosiveness, and Olave provides it in ways few players can. His route-running is surgical, his speed is a problem for defenses, and his chemistry with quarterbacks—despite the revolving door at that position—has been one of the only constants in a turbulent offense. He’s not just a piece of the puzzle. He is the foundation.

So when trade rumors pop up—like the recent report that the Pittsburgh Steelers showed interest—it’s easy to see why fans might panic. While it’s true the Saints took calls from teams like the Steelers and Browns earlier in the offseason, they wisely rebuffed them. As Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported, “He’s not on the block,” and unless someone completely blows New Orleans away, he won’t be. Nor should he be.

Even entertaining the idea of an Olave trade is dangerous. It sends the message that the franchise is willing to move on from its few ascending stars, and at that point, it’s hard not to view it as waving the white flag. That’s not to say a rebuild is inherently bad—many fans would argue the team should have committed to one the moment Drew Brees retired. But the Saints haven’t taken that route. They’ve tried to compete. They've made cap gymnastics an art form to stay relevant. Trading Olave would undermine all of that.

Keeping Olave is about more than just stats—it’s about direction, identity, and hope. If the Saints deal him, they aren’t just losing their best offensive weapon—they’re losing credibility with their fans and sending the signal that competitive football in New Orleans is on hold indefinitely.

At this stage of his career, Olave is still under contract for two more years. He's affordable, talented, and entering his prime. In a league where wide receiver talent is more valuable than ever, parting ways with a player like this—without a replacement even remotely in sight—would be the equivalent of setting the offense back another half-decade.

The Saints need to silence the noise and lock in on what should be obvious: Chris Olave is not just a building block. He’s the building block. And right now, this franchise can’t afford to lose him—not if it wants to avoid plunging into a full-blown rebuild it has resisted for so long.