After a 35-21 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said the team has plenty to sort through before the next game. He pointed to the red zone, the third quarter, and the roster and scheme as areas that need attention.
“ I think at this point, we’re thinking about everything. How to fix our problems, how to fix our issues in the red zone, in the third quarter. Personnel, scheme, we’ve got to talk about all of it.”
Las Vegas can’t solve every issue in a single week, but it can look for outside help to patch holes across the roster. With the trade deadline conversation heating up, one name that stands out is Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs.
Downs asked for a trade on Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, and he could be on the move after Indianapolis already dealt two major veterans this week: three-time All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks and three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers.
The Raiders should check in on Downs, though the price may not be light. A late Day 2 pick in the 2027 draft is the likely starting point, and that comes with a longer-term decision too, since the fourth-year receiver is in the final year of his rookie contract.
Downs has put up 224 catches for 2,447 yards and 11 touchdowns, and he cleared 770 receiving yards in each of his first two seasons. He profiles as a reliable No. 2 receiver who does his best work from the slot, and he could fit as a strong 1B option next to Tre Tucker.
Las Vegas also could use help on the defensive interior, where bigger bodies matter. Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne hasn’t replicated his 11.5-sack Pro Bowl season from 2022, but he remains a tough run stopper. Over the past two years, he has 60 tackles, including nine for loss, in 21 games.
Washington sits at 1-4-1, which could make veteran talent available before the deadline. Payne is in his age-29 season, has played 74% of the defensive snaps as a starter, and is on an expiring contract. That combination could make him available for a reasonable return, possibly a 2027 fifth- or sixth-round pick.
Another option for the Raiders could come from Tampa Bay if the Buccaneers slip this weekend. Even after a win, the Bucs are still in the NFC South race, but a loss to the surging Atlanta Falcons could open the door for a deal.
That’s where A'Shawn Robinson enters the picture. Tampa Bay signed him to a one-year, $10 million contract this offseason, and he would be a cheaper trade target than Vita Vea, who signed a one-year, $30 million extension last August.
Robinson, who is 6-foot-3 and 320 pounds, has long been known as a sturdy run defender. In seven games this season, he has 20 tackles, six solo, one tackle for loss and a sack. For Las Vegas, he looks like the kind of under-the-radar addition who could give the middle of the defense some much-needed snaps.
In Other News...
Raiders Fans Have A New Trade Deadline Concern With JPJ
With the November 10 trade deadline creeping closer, the Raiders suddenly have more than one name floating around in the rumor mill. Jackson Powers-Johnson has become part of that conversation after landing on the injury report with a back issue, adding another layer to a week already filled with speculation about which veterans and young pieces could be in play if Las Vegas decides to listen.
The chatter has not been limited to one player, either, with Isaiah Pola-Mao, Maxx Crosby and Kirk Cousins also mentioned as possible trade candidates depending on how the season and the coaching situation unfold. For Raiders fans, the concern is less about a single rumor than the larger question of whether the front office views this roster as one worth holding together, or one that could be reshaped before the deadline arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Depth Chart Reveals Where This Skid Is Really Hurting
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Offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko said the staff adjusts practice routines every week to help the team improve, and this one has clearly been aimed at tightening up the details. With the offense still searching for more production and the defense looking for steadier execution, the next stretch will show whether those weekly tweaks can start to matter in a meaningful way. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Could Get Needed Help Back With One Big Role Question
Jack Bech is back in the conversation for the Raiders at a time when they could use another dependable body at wide receiver. The rookie has already built a reputation inside the building for his energy, work habits and willingness to block in the run game, traits that tend to earn trust quickly in a room where every role matters. After missing time with a broken arm, he is again eligible to return, which gives Las Vegas another option as it tries to sort out its passing-game rotation.
Klint Kubiak has left the door open for Bech to play against the Jets, but the bigger question is how much of a role he can handle right away. For a Raiders offense looking for help, simply getting him back on the field would matter, yet the real intrigue is whether his return comes with a meaningful workload or just a limited first step back into the mix. [Read more 🡒]