Saints' Chris Olave Reportedly Pursued by Bills Before NFL Trade Deadline Amid Rumors

The Buffalo Bills are reportedly among the teams that have checked in on the availability of New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave.

According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Bills contacted the Saints in recent weeks to discuss a potential trade for Olave, but New Orleans is expected to keep the 25-year-old pass-catcher past Tuesday's NFL trade deadline.

Russini added that the receiver-needy Bills have also talked to the Las Vegas Raiders about veteran wideout Jakobi Meyers, but the Raiders have "set a high price."

Originally selected 11th overall by the Saints in the 2022 NFL draft out of Ohio State, Olave has experienced his fair share of ups and downs over the course of his four-year NFL career.

After reaching the 1,000-yard mark in each of his first two seasons, Olave was limited to just eight games last season as a result of suffering two concussions. He finished the campaign with just 32 catches for 400 yards and one touchdown.

The 25-year-old receiver has bounced back so far this season, though, registering 52 receptions for 503 yards and three touchdowns. He is on pace to exceed 1,000 yards for the third time in his career, and also on pace to set new career highs in receptions and touchdowns.

Impressively, Olave has done all of that with a less-than-ideal quarterback situation. Spencer Rattler, who was a fifth-round pick last season, started the team's first eight games, going 1-7.

Rattler was replaced last week by rookie second-round pick Tyler Shough, and Shough is in line to make his first career start Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.

Olave is signed through next season since the Saints exercised the fifth-year option in his contract, meaning they are under no immediate pressure to trade him.

It is perhaps more likely the Saints will part with their No. 2 wideout in Rashid Shaheed since he can become a free agent at the end of this season.

Known for his speed and big-play ability, Shaheed would perhaps be a perfect fit in a Buffalo offense that is missing those qualities at the receiver position.

The Bills are 5-2 and boast the reigning NFL MVP in quarterback Josh Allen, but they have lacked a clear, go-to guy in the passing game since trading Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans prior to the 2024 season.

Slot receiver Khalil Shakir leads the Bills in catches (31), receiving yards (356) and receiving touchdowns (three), but the next most productive wideout on the roster is Keon Coleman, who has 27 catches for 267 yards and two touchdowns, and most of that damage was done in a Week 1 win over the Baltimore Ravens when he had eight grabs for 112 yards and a score.

The Bills need another reliable option in the passing game aside from Shakir, and while Olave would undoubtedly be a great fit in that regard, it sounds as though Buffalo may have to explore other possibilities.