The Patriots went into the 2025 offseason with nearly every part of the roster up in the air besides quarterback, as Drake Maye looked the part of the next franchise quarterback throughout his rookie year. That meant that the new head coach, Mike Vrabel, had his plate overflowing with upgrades that needed to be made, which could still include some trades before the regular season begins.
After what appears to be a successful free agency and NFL Draft, including an impressive UDFA class, the biggest concern with the roster now is presumably depth. The offense was addressed masterfully, with LSU left tackle Will Campbell and wide receiver Stefon Diggs leading the way, but there is a chance there is room for more moves to be made to put the group over the top.
That opportunity arose in recent days when quarterback Derek Carr announced his shocking retirement after an 11-year career. Considering the moves the Saints made in the draft, it looks like a decision that had been brewing, but there's a chance they're open to making more significant roster decisions, knowing the 2025 season is probably a wash.
Because of that, there's no reason for the Patriots not to get on the phone and inquire about the availability of a wide receiver they had previously been connected to and projected to potentially trade for.
The Patriots could sneak in and pull out a blockbuster trade with the Saints after Derek Carr's retirement
With the goal of surrounding Drake Maye with top-tier talent at the forefront of the offseason, the Patriots have an opportunity to continue that by calling the Saints about a possible trade for wide receiver Chris Olave.
Although he is the offense's WR1 as it currently stands, the Saints might be in sell mode and will want to add as much draft capital to their stock as possible. That could mean they'll want to trade perhaps their best asset, Olave, and the Patriots could be the ones to make a deal happen.
The addition of Diggs in free agency certainly was the upgrade the offense needed, as well as selecting running back TreVeyon Henderson and receiver Kyle Williams in the draft. That will inevitably make Maye's production far better than last year, yet adding Olave into the mix would be another long-term solution for a problem they hope to avoid.
At just 24 years old, Olave is still on a rookie contract, meaning he is a bargain deal for the Patriots to take over, and because he's so young, trading for him now will allow him and Maye to grow together for the foreseeable future, which is the ideal scenario for any young quarterback.
This is even more important because it's clear Diggs is not meant to be a long-term solution given his age. So, adding a player like Olave would be a wise choice for Maye's growth and continued success.
Of course, the main issue with this trade will be the asking price. Because Olave was the 11th overall pick in the 2022 Draft and has lived up to the hype, it's fair to assume the Saints will want a first-round pick in return. The Patriots would have to decide if that's worth giving up plus more, which could deter them from ultimately pulling the trigger. But if Vrabel wants to put the offense in the best position possible to succeed, then they might seriously consider it far more than they would previously.
The real question now becomes whether the Saints will be willing to part with Olave, even if they're just listening to calls, and if the Patriots' potential offer would be enough to convince them it's a deal to be made.