With the 2025 NFL Draft now in the books, the New York Jets are shifting focus to the next phase of their offseason roster-building, aiming to address lingering weaknesses through the second wave of free agency or trades. As highlighted in a predictive analysis by TWSN titled “New Orleans Saints Trade Chris Olave to the New York Jets,” the Jets are poised to make a significant move at wide receiver by targeting New Orleans Saints star Chris Olave, a player who was the subject of trade talks earlier in the offseason.
The Jets underwent a major overhaul this offseason, bringing in a new general manager, Darren Mougey, a new head coach, Aaron Glenn, and a new quarterback, Justin Fields, who signed a two-year, $40 million deal in free agency, as reported by Heavy.com on March 10, 2025. Fields, a dual-threat quarterback who threw for 2,562 yards and rushed for 657 in 2024 with the Bears, represents a significant upgrade over Aaron Rodgers, whose tenure with the Jets ended after a disappointing 2024 season marred by injury and a 5-12 team record. The Jets also bolstered their offensive line by drafting Auburn tackle Armand Membou in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, a pick lauded as one of the “best fits” by TWSN for his pass-blocking prowess (82.4 grade from Pro Football Focus in 2024). Additionally, they added Penn State tight end Tyler Warren in the fourth round, who recorded 83 catches for 1,012 yards in 2024, to provide another pass-catching option.
Despite these moves, the Jets’ wide receiver corps remains a weak point. Garrett Wilson, who hauled in 95 catches for 1,042 yards in 2024, is the clear WR1, but the depth chart drops off significantly after him. Josh Reynolds, acquired via free agency, managed 608 yards with the Lions in 2024, while Allen Lazard, a holdover from the Rodgers era, has underperformed, posting just 412 yards last season. The lack of a reliable second option has hindered the Jets’ passing game, which ranked 24th in the NFL in 2024 with 3,422 yards, per Pro Football Reference. Fields, who reunites with his Ohio State teammate Wilson, needs more weapons to unlock the offense’s potential, especially given his ability to extend plays with his legs (4.4-second 40-yard dash at the 2021 Combine).
Enter Chris Olave, a 25-year-old wide receiver who could transform the Jets’ offense. Olave, a 2022 first-round pick by the Saints, has been a consistent producer despite quarterback instability in New Orleans, amassing 2,567 yards and 10 touchdowns on 191 receptions over three seasons (2022-2024). In 2024, he recorded 87 catches for 1,123 yards and 5 touchdowns, even as the Saints cycled through Derek Carr and Spencer Rattler, finishing 7-10. Olave’s speed (4.39-second 40-yard dash) and route-running ability make him a field-stretching complement to Wilson, who excels in contested-catch situations (54% contested catch rate in 2024, per NFL Next Gen Stats). The proposed trade would reunite Olave with Fields, with whom he played at Ohio State in 2019 and 2020, where Olave caught 96 passes for 1,497 yards and 19 touchdowns over two seasons while Fields was the quarterback. It would also pair him again with Wilson, creating a trio of Buckeyes that could reignite the Jets’ stagnant offense, which hasn’t ranked higher than 20th in scoring since 2015.
For the Saints, trading Olave makes sense as they pivot toward a rebuild. New Orleans, which went 7-10 in 2024 and missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year, faces uncertainty at quarterback with Carr’s contract expiring in 2026 and Rattler still unproven. Olave, in the final year of his rookie deal with a fifth-year option for 2026 valued at $16.8 million (per OverTheCap), is due for a significant extension—likely in the $23-25 million annual range, based on recent deals for receivers like A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. With multiple roster holes, including offensive line and secondary, the Saints could use the draft capital from an Olave trade to accelerate their rebuild for 2026. A potential deal might see the Jets sending a 2026 second-round pick and a 2025 fourth-round pick to New Orleans, giving the Saints ammunition to address their needs while the Jets secure a proven WR2.
Olave in a Jets offense with Fields at the helm could be a game-changer. Fields’ deep-ball accuracy—41% completion on throws of 20+ yards in 2024, per Pro Football Focus—pairs perfectly with Olave’s ability to stretch the field (16.1 average depth of target in 2024). Meanwhile, Wilson would benefit from reduced defensive attention, potentially boosting his production past his 2024 numbers. The addition of tight end Tyler Warren, who projects as a reliable underneath option with 6-foot-6 size and 4.62 speed, further diversifies the passing attack. Under new coach Aaron Glenn, who led the Lions to a top-10 defense as their coordinator in 2024, the Jets are aiming to balance their roster, and Olave could be the missing piece to make their offense competitive in the AFC East, where they’ve struggled, going 1-5 in the division last year.
This trade prediction, while speculative, aligns with the Jets’ needs and the Saints’ trajectory. For New York, reuniting the Ohio State trio of Fields, Wilson, and Olave could provide the offensive spark they’ve lacked, potentially turning a 5-12 team into a playoff contender in 2025. For Olave, a fresh start in a more stable offense could elevate him into the elite tier of NFL receivers, fulfilling the potential he showed in New Orleans. As the offseason progresses, all eyes will be on whether the Jets make this bold move to reshape their future.
