Could the New England Patriots pull off a shocking trade to land a star wide receiver for rookie quarterback Drake Maye? Despite signing Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins in free agency, the Patriots still have a glaring need at wide receiver.
Diggs, coming off a torn ACL at 31 years old, remains a question mark, while Hollins is more of a depth option than a primary target. As a result, it’s expected that New England will select a wide receiver in the upcoming NFL Draft, possibly taking Travis Hunter with the fourth overall pick or targeting a receiver later in the draft.
However, could the Patriots still make a bold move to acquire a star receiver and give Maye a proven playmaker to work with?
In a recent mailbag on Pats Pulpit, a reader suggested a blockbuster trade: sending the No. 4 overall pick to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for picks 9 and 71, along with wide receiver Chris Olave.
“I think this would be fair value for the No. 4 pick if the Saints want to move up, though taking on Olave could be a gamble due to his concussion history (even though I’m a big fan of the player),” said Brian Hines of Pats Pulpit.
Olave, who has suffered multiple concussions, including two in 2024, has a concerning injury history. With five concussions on his record, dating back to his time at Ohio State, predicting his long-term NFL future is tricky.
That said, when healthy, Olave has been exceptional, posting back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023. In 2023, he recorded 87 catches for 1,123 yards and five touchdowns, proving he’s a dynamic and talented receiver.
The 24-year-old was limited to just eight games last season, though, and with a contract extension looming, his injury history could complicate a potential deal for the Patriots. While Olave could be a game-changer for New England, his health issues make the trade a bit more risky for the Patriots as they look to build around their young quarterback.
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