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7 hours ago
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The New Orleans Saints lost another game, this time a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Tyler Shough and the offense weren't competitive at any point, and ended up totaling 224 yards of offense on 16 minutes of possession.
Following the loss, the Saints are 1-8, and heading into a trade deadline that could alter the course of the franchise. Rashid Shaheed is drawing a lot of interest, but Chris Olave is a player often brought up in trade talks despite the Saints' intention to extend him.
ESPN writer Dan Graziano is urging the Saints to decide otherwise and, instead of trying to extend Olave, look to trade him for a haul at the deadline.
Saints urged to trade Chris Olave despite extension plans
"Of New Orleans' receivers," Graziano writes, "Olave would bring back the best return in a trade. And the Saints look like a team that should be trading players for draft picks and thinking rebuild."
If Shaheed is going for a third-round pick, which has been the Saints' asking price, Olave could net at least a second-rounder. He's under contract for 2026 and is still fairly young. A team with a need at wide receiver surely would have a ton of interest in Olave.
While keeping Olave for their franchise quarterback, whether it's Shough, Spencer Rattler, or a rookie selected in the next draft class, is appealing, shipping Olave for a huge draft pick return could be exactly what the Saints need to do to rebuild the roster.
"But for a team such as New Orleans," Graziano writes, "the trade deadline isn't about ditching good players, it's about maximizing the value of your assets. And Olave is a player for whom teams would give up a lot in a trade. The Saints are doing their franchise a disservice if they're not even open to having the conversation."
New Orleans has tried to shut down the Olave trade speculation with their intention to extend the former Ohio State wide receiver. But moving Olave would help in the upcoming draft classes and would save money for a team still trying to recover from its cap space issues after the Drew Brees era.
"Again, I'm not saying to trade him." Graziano writes. "I'm saying that as long as he's signed for only one more year, there ought to be some return that could make it worth considering."
Until the Saints actually extend Olave beyond 2026, Graziano is urging New Orleans to leave the door open to a potential trade. There's a case to be made for trading and keeping Olave, but to not listen to offers would be malpractice.
If a team like the Buffalo Bills or Denver Broncos offers a pick hard to refuse, then the Saints should be open to a trade. At least, in Graziano's opinion, they should be until they extend Olave.
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