Before the 2025 offseason began, it was apparent the Patriots would heavily pursue pending free agent receivers to boost their offense after the receiving corps was (once again) one of the weakest groups on the roster. With Drake Maye now firmly under center, he will expectedly be the focus, and setting him up for success will be treated with the highest priority.
That has tied the Patriots to several free agents, most notably Tee Higgins, and newly announced stars who have been put on the trade market over the last few weeks. Some of those names are certainly intriguing, like Cooper Kupp and Deebo Samuel, but none have sparked the same interest as Higgins.
The problem is that the Bengals decided they would franchise tag him to give them more time to work out a contract extension, presumably taking him out of contention to sign with the Patriots. However, there is a chance they won't reach a deal and look to trade Higgins instead of allowing him to walk for nothing, which the latest chatter suggests might be closer to reality than a new contract.
On top of that, a new report on Thursday claims the Patriots are not going to pursue him, as they don't view Higgins as a $30+ million a year receiver. Instead, they will look into other trade options to fill that role.
A short list of names has circulated as potential targets, but Chad Graff of The Athletic just suggested one of the more intriguing options, which has been rarely discussed and lives up to the same potential that Higgins would bring to the offense next season.
The Patriots could have Saints receiver Chris Olave on their radar after Tee Higgins plan falls through
Because the Patriots desperately need a clear WR1 on the team, the belief has been that they will be uber-aggressive in free agency to ensure they add him this offseason. They have the cap space to handle a big-time contract, whether by attaining it or in a new contract, making it the best time possible to make a blockbuster move.
Following that assumption, Graff mentions some top-name trade targets that would fit the bill, including D.K. Metcalf. But he also threw in Saints' Chris Olave, who might be the perfect alternative if Higgins remains off the table.
“My early guess (with more reporting hopefully to come soon) is that the Pats will aggressively pursue a trade. That could be as ambitious as calling New Orleans about Chris Olave or Seattle about DK Metcalf. Or it might have to be settling for a deal with the Los Angeles Rams for Cooper Kupp.”
Related: Mike Vrabel doesn't shut down Patriots making blockbuster trade for star WR
The 24-year-old is entering the fourth year of his NFL career, and since he was drafted in the first round in 2022, Olave has immediately become the top receiver that New Orleans had longed for. Over the last three seasons, he has recorded 191 receptions for 2,565 yards and ten touchdowns, all while dealing with uncertainty at the quarterback position.
That inevitably makes him a great player for the Patriots to add to their roster, especially to grow with Maye over the next few years. Given his age and potential in the league, he's instantly the most desirable trade candidate, even more so since he's still on a rookie contract.
Whether the Saints will be open to trading him is unclear, but we know the NFL is a business about deals that make no player safe. If the Patriots can make an offer they can't refuse, which would presumably need to be filled with draft picks, it's probably fair to assume New Orleans wouldn't immediately reject it.
Currently, though, Olave is undoubtedly a name to watch for when free agency begins. He hasn't been mentioned much regarding a trade, but the Patriots should be desperate enough to make the call and kick the tires on what it might take to get a trade done.