Brandin Cooks, Rashid Shaheed Trades Reportedly Eyed amid Chris Olave Contract Rumors

New Orleans Saints wide receivers will be under the spotlight ahead of the Nov. 4 NFL trade deadline with multiple playmakers reportedly drawing interest.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday the position has "generated plenty of trade discussion" and specifically highlighted Brandin Cooks and Rashid Shaheed as players who could be moved since the NFC South team "wants to keep Chris Olave."

According to Rapoport, the Saints "would be more open" to trading Shaheed. What's more, he noted Cooks would set the record as the NFL player traded more than anyone else at five times if New Orleans moves him.

As for Olave, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported earlier this month the Saints have "been trying to work out a long-term contract" with the Ohio State product. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler pointed out he could be at the center of the team's entire strategy:

There is less urgency with Olave than the other two, as he is under team control through 2026 with a club option on his contract for next season.

Shaheed is scheduled for free agency after the 2025 campaign, and Cooks has a potential out for 2026 on his deal. Olave also figures to be more of a long-term building block seeing how he is just 25 years old and that New Orleans selected him with a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

Cooks, 32, is less likely to be a primary contributor when the Saints are ready to compete, and Shaheed could be headed elsewhere in free agency during the upcoming offseason if there isn't a trade.

New Orleans is just 1-6 on the season and will likely be playing out the string on a lost campaign the rest of the way. That should, in theory, increase its desire to make at least one move since adding draft picks in potential trades could accelerate its rebuild.

And Olave can be part of that rebuild even if the other receivers aren't.

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While injuries limited him to just eight games last season, he tallied more than 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first two campaigns in the league and looked the part of a No. 1 receiver in the offense. Through seven games this year, he has 44 catches for 440 yards and three touchdowns.

He is also coming off an excellent game against the Chicago Bears in which he posted five catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns. It was his second straight contest with 98 receiving yards, suggesting he may have turned the corner after working his way back into the lineup following an injury-shortened 2024.

Given the Saints' record and their depth at the position, teams will surely call them about wide receivers in the coming days. But all indications are an Olave trade is the least likely of the three.