The Las Vegas Raiders sit in a strange spot as the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaches. A 3-3 start would have been acceptable to plenty of fans, even if the road there has been bumpy. And with a few different bounces in the losses to the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills, this group could just as easily be staring at a 5-1 record.
Instead, John Spytek has a decision to make with the schedule about to keep getting tougher. The Raiders are still close enough to the playoff conversation that selling feels wrong, but buying would mean parting with draft capital that matters to the long-term plan.
That’s why the Indianapolis Colts suddenly look like a team worth watching. With Chris Ballard fired this week, the sense is that veteran players could be available, and there should be no shortage of names that interest other clubs.
The Raiders should at least check in on several Colts, but DeForest Buckner stands out as the one who could make the biggest difference.
Buckner’s postgame comments after the Colts’ Week 6 loss to the Tennessee Titans made his frustration clear. Before Ballard was let go, he was essentially putting his future in play.
#Colts DT DeForest Buckner’s postgame presser.
“I’m sick and tired of the same song and dance every year.” pic.twitter.com/0lwXhKDpVS
- James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) October 18, 2026
He is also on a contract year, and at 32, it is hard to picture him being part of a reset or rebuild. If he is nearing the back end of his career, the timing points away from staying put in Indianapolis and toward a chance to chase something bigger.
From the Raiders’ side, the fit is obvious. Their defensive tackle group has not done enough in either phase, with the pass rush underwhelming and the run defense struggling. Buckner’s run-game impact may not be what it once was, at least if you go by raw tackles and Pro Football Focus grades, but he still brings real juice as an interior pass rusher.
He would also give Las Vegas something it needs more of on that unit: experience. In his 11th season, Buckner would step into a young defensive tackle room that has too few established voices beyond Adam Butler.
Financially, a deal is workable. An acquiring team would be on the hook for the prorated remainder of Buckner’s $13 million base salary, which would sit at $8.67 million as of the end of Week 6. If a trade came together on deadline day, that number would drop to $6.5 million.
The price in draft capital could still be manageable, likely somewhere around a third- or fourth-round pick given Buckner’s age and the possibility that he is a rental. But that would not guarantee the Raiders get him. A more established contender could drive the cost up, and with the Colts possibly trying to do right by Buckner if he is moved, he could also have a say in where he ends up.
If that happens, the Raiders may find themselves competing with several better-positioned suitors. Spytek should absolutely have Buckner on the radar. Whether Las Vegas can win that race is another matter.
In Other News...
Raiders Trade Deadline Could Decide Their Biggest Weakness
The Raiders have spent the offseason reshaping their roster, but one of the old issues is still hanging around. Las Vegas has seen signs of progress up front, yet the offensive line remains a concern as the season moves along, and it has become the clearest area where the front office could still make a difference.
Offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko has stressed the staffs detailed, incremental approach to the unit, focusing on small weekly gains rather than treating the line like a finished product. That leaves the trade deadline as a meaningful checkpoint for the Raiders, who have to decide whether to keep developing the current group or look for a move that could stabilize the interior and give the offense a better chance to hold up. [Read more 🡒]
Maxx Crosby Trade Talk Is Heating Up For One Complicated Reason
Maxx Crosby keeps doing what hes always done for the Raiders, which is stress quarterbacks and make life miserable even when the box score does not always fully capture it. Through six games, he has piled up 15 quarterback hits and sits tied for third in the NFL in that category, a reminder that his impact goes well beyond the sack total and into the daily problem-solving that defines elite pass rushers.
Even so, his name has not escaped trade chatter, and that is where the conversation gets complicated for Las Vegas. The league has seen rushers with similar production move for less draft capital than fans might expect, and Crosbys contract situation only adds another layer to the debate, which is why his value keeps coming up whenever teams start wondering what a premium defender is really worth. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Week 7 Decisions Could Say A Lot About Their Trade Deadline
The Raiders Week 7 roster picture could end up telling a lot about what they plan to do before the NFL trade deadline. A recent change at right guard, where Caleb Rogers moved into the starting role, only adds to the sense that Las Vegas is still sorting out its line and evaluating how pieces fit as the season moves deeper into October. At the same time, the backfield is thinning with Mike Washington Jr. dealing with foot and back injuries, and that could open a path for undrafted rookie Roman Hemby if Washington is unavailable.
There is also pressure building at receiver, where Jack Bech and Donte Thornton Jr. are getting closer to returns from injured reserve. Thorntons timetable in particular gives the Raiders little room to drag out the decision, and the approaching deadline only makes the roster math more interesting. Between the reshuffling up front, the injury situations and the possible reinforcements on the way, Week 7 may be less about one game plan and more about what Las Vegas thinks it needs for the stretch ahead. [Read more 🡒]