Chris Olave of the New Orleans Saints is up for trade, and the Cardinals are interested in his dynamic partnership with Marvin Harrison Jr.

The NFL rumor mill has churned into overdrive this offseason, but few stories carry the immediate intrigue and long-term implications of the latest involving New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave. According to league insiders, the Saints are fielding trade offers for the former first-round pick, and one team has emerged as a particularly aggressive suitor: the Arizona Cardinals.

What makes Arizona’s interest so compelling is not just the talent of Olave himself, but the potential to pair him with rookie sensation Marvin Harrison Jr.—the former Ohio State phenom widely regarded as one of the most NFL-ready receivers in recent memory. A Harrison-Olave duo could redefine the Cardinals’ offensive identity overnight and send shockwaves across the NFC.

Let’s explore how the deal could materialize, why the Cardinals are motivated to make this splash, and what it says about the Saints’ direction as they weigh a bold, controversial decision.

Chris Olave has done almost everything right since entering the NFL in 2022. Drafted 11th overall out of Ohio State, Olave posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons on a Saints offense that has been anything but consistent. His fluid route running, deep-threat ability, and deceptive strength at the catch point have made him one of the most reliable receivers under 25.

Yet despite his individual success, New Orleans has failed to find its rhythm as a team. The Dennis Allen era has been mired in mediocrity, the quarterback situation remains unsettled with Derek Carr offering little more than veteran stability, and the salary cap crunch—something the Saints have managed with wizardry for years—may finally be catching up.

Trading Olave would be shocking on the surface, but in the current context, it’s understandable. The Saints are overloaded with veteran contracts, aging talent, and a roster that lacks the juice to contend in a stacked NFC. They may view Olave as their most valuable trade chip, one who could yield premium draft capital or young talent to jumpstart a rebuild.

The Arizona Cardinals are in an entirely different phase of their evolution. After bottoming out in 2023 and undergoing a quiet, methodical rebuild under GM Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon, the Cardinals are now in a position to be bold.

The selection of Marvin Harrison Jr. with the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft was widely applauded. Harrison is not only a generational talent at wide receiver but arrives with polish and professionalism well beyond his years. The move signaled Arizona’s intent to give quarterback Kyler Murray every possible tool to succeed.

But now, the Cardinals are thinking even bigger. Per multiple reports, they’ve inquired about Chris Olave’s availability and have shown a willingness to part with future picks or even key rotational defenders to make it happen. The goal is clear: accelerate the rebuild, open up the offense, and give Murray a fearsome 1-2 punch on the perimeter.

A Harrison-Olave tandem would be unique—not just for the rare collegiate chemistry (they overlapped briefly at Ohio State) but for their stylistic complement. Harrison offers elite size, hands, and contested-catch ability, while Olave brings elite separation, speed, and subtle route nuance.

Ohio State fans are salivating at the thought of Harrison and Olave reuniting at the NFL level. The duo never had the opportunity to dominate side-by-side in Columbus—Harrison was a freshman during Olave’s final year in 2021—but the potential they flashed in limited reps has always sparked curiosity.

Harrison Jr. recently spoke about Olave in glowing terms during a podcast interview, calling him “one of the smartest and smoothest players I’ve ever watched” and “a guy I’ve tried to learn from since I got to Ohio State.” Their mutual respect is evident, and if Arizona can make the deal, their partnership could blossom into something truly special.

Having two Ohio State greats operating in tandem would also offer marketing and branding potential—particularly for a team like Arizona, which has often been overshadowed in a competitive NFC West dominated by the 49ers and Rams.

This potential trade isn’t just about receivers. It’s about unlocking the best version of Kyler Murray.

The former No. 1 overall pick has been enigmatic throughout his career—flashing MVP-level talent one week and showing puzzling inconsistency the next. Injuries haven’t helped, nor has the constant churn in offensive philosophy. But now, with a new coaching staff and improved roster, Murray is finally set up to succeed.

Giving him two elite receivers would do more than improve box scores—it would simplify reads, open up the run game, and force defenses to play with lighter boxes. It’s the kind of move that could make Murray a comeback player of the year candidate and potentially extend his tenure in Arizona past 2025.

If the Cardinals want to get Chris Olave, they’ll have to pay a steep price. The Saints aren’t simply looking to dump salary—they’d need a meaningful return, likely including:

• A 2026 first-round pick
• An additional mid-rounder (3rd or 4th)
• Possibly a young, controllable defender (such as LB Zaven Collins or CB Garrett Williams)

New Orleans would likely seek draft flexibility to target their next quarterback, whether through the 2026 Draft or a trade. If Arizona balks at the asking price, other suitors could emerge—such as the Patriots, Chargers, or even the Falcons.

But the Cardinals are arguably in the best position to make an aggressive offer without mortgaging their future. They own additional draft capital thanks to prior trades and have a young core that’s still developing.

From a football standpoint, Olave is a near-perfect fit in the Cardinals’ offensive blueprint.

New offensive coordinator Drew Petzing favors spread principles with West Coast influence, prioritizing quick reads, pre-snap motion, and vertical stretch concepts. Olave’s ability to win on intermediate routes, manipulate leverage, and separate late in the route would mesh beautifully alongside Harrison’s outside dominance and tight end Trey McBride’s underneath work.

Imagine the Cardinals lining up with Harrison at X, Olave at Z, and McBride as an H-back or slot mismatch. Defenses would be forced to pick their poison. That kind of spacing could resurrect a stagnant offense that ranked 26th in total yards and 29th in points in 2023.

The upside is clear. But there are risks.

Olave has never played with a truly elite quarterback—his time in New Orleans has been defined by inconsistency. A move to Arizona offers potential, but also questions. Will Kyler Murray stay healthy? Can Jonathan Gannon build a playoff-caliber defense to complement a loaded offense?

Also, there’s the matter of money. Olave is still on his rookie deal, but will soon command a major extension. That would mean Arizona must commit serious long-term dollars to both him and Harrison (eventually), not to mention Murray and McBride. The Cardinals are flush with cap space now, but future planning will be key.

Yet in the NFL, fortune often favors the bold. And Arizona is signaling that it’s no longer content to play it safe.

If the trade goes through, it would mark a clear shift for New Orleans. Moving on from Olave would not be a win-now move—it would be a message that a soft rebuild is underway.

Fans would understandably be disappointed, but the logic has its merits. Without a top-10 quarterback, and with veteran contracts for Cameron Jordan, Alvin Kamara, and Marshon Lattimore eating up cap space, the Saints may finally be forced to reset. Trading Olave could net the assets necessary to make that pivot effectively.

New Orleans could use the picks to either move up in the 2026 Draft or build out a new foundation around a young quarterback. The team already drafted WR A.T. Perry and signed Cedrick Wilson Jr. as depth, but no one in that room replaces Olave’s star power.

As the NFL offseason barrels toward training camp, the possibility of Chris Olave joining Marvin Harrison Jr. in Arizona looms large.

It’s the kind of move that alters franchises—not just in terms of wins and losses, but in how fans, players, and pundits view organizational ambition. For the Cardinals, it would be a statement of belief in Kyler Murray and in the offense of the future. For the Saints, it might represent a painful but necessary step toward long-term competitiveness.

Either way, if the trade happens, the Cardinals could soon boast one of the most exciting young receiving duos in football—and with it, a brand-new identity built on speed, precision, and Ohio State greatness.