The Raiders are sitting in a strange middle ground at 4-5, and that makes them one of the most interesting teams to watch as the trade deadline hits Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Las Vegas is still hanging around the wild-card picture, but the next two weeks could change everything. The Seahawks and Broncos are up next, and that stretch could either keep the Raiders alive or push them out of the conversation entirely. With that in mind, general manager John Spytek has a few different ways he could attack the deadline.
One of the biggest names tied to the Raiders is quarterback Kirk Cousins. After what happened on Monday night, the need for Minnesota to add a quarterback only became more obvious. The Vikings are 6-2 and would look like a real contender with a dependable signal caller, and Cousins and Daniel Jones appear to be the most realistic options for them.
Las Vegas is not shopping Cousins, but that does not mean the door is closed. If the right offer comes in, the front office would have to think hard about it. The Raiders should not be eager to move the 38-year-old quarterback, but if Minnesota gets desperate and puts a second-round pick on the table, that is the kind of deal that should get done.
Another name worth watching is Maxx Crosby. If the Raiders decide the road to the postseason is too steep, this is the kind of moment when they could cash in on his value.
Crosby is at his highest trade value right now, and Dallas has a history of pushing hard at the deadline. Jerry Jones has repeatedly said this season that he is always looking to improve the team, and it would not be a surprise if the Cowboys came in with a first-round pick plus for the two-time All-Pro pass rusher.
That kind of move would force Las Vegas to face the bigger picture. This roster still needs several pieces before it can truly be built for a playoff run, and two weeks from now the Raiders could be out of the race anyway.
There is also a path where the Raiders make a move that helps now and later, and that is where Brian Thomas Jr. comes in. He just turned 24 in October and put up more than 1,200 receiving yards in his rookie season. If Las Vegas can land the 2024 first-round pick for a second- or third-round pick, Spytek should make the deal.
That kind of trade would give the Raiders a receiver with real long-term value, while still fitting the idea that they are not that far from being relevant in the present. Whether they choose to buy, sell, or do a little of both, Las Vegas has real decisions to make before the deadline passes.
In Other News...
Raiders Rivalry Put The 49ers In Focus For The Wrong Reason
What should have been a routine chapter in the Bay Area rivalry instead turned Levis Stadium into a scene of repeated trouble, with multiple brawls breaking out among fans in the stands and parking lots during the 49ers-Raiders game. The matchup has long carried added security concerns, and on this occasion the law enforcement presence was not enough to keep the incidents from spilling over into violent altercations.
Efforts to calm things down did not work, leaving authorities to sort through the aftermath and identify the people involved. For the Raiders, the football itself was quickly overshadowed by the kind of off-field behavior that can turn a rivalry game into a public safety issue, and officials are now focused on holding those who broke the law accountable. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Rivalry Game Turned Into A Dangerous Scene Fans Will Hate
A preseason rivalry game at Levis Stadium between the 49ers and Raiders turned ugly in a hurry, with multiple brawls breaking out among fans both in the stands and in the parking lot. The matchup has long carried extra edge because of the history between the two teams, and security was visibly stepped up around the stadium, but it still wasnt enough to keep tempers from boiling over.
Videos from the scene showed fans from both sides trading punches and tumbling over stadium seats as the chaos spread. The incidents led to arrests and renewed questions about how much can really be done to keep a charged rivalry from spilling beyond the field and into the crowd. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Suddenly Face A Roster Crossroads After Ugly 49ers Loss
The Raiders Week 9 loss to the 49ers did more than add another ugly result to the ledger. It also sharpened the questions around a roster that is still very much in motion, with coach Klint Kubiak acknowledging that the teams thinking around personnel is evolving as the trade deadline approaches. After a game in which Kirk Cousins was picked off three times and the defense had its own problems keeping San Francisco in check, the margin for patience only seems to be shrinking.
Kubiaks comments fit the broader reality in Las Vegas, where every new game seems to bring a fresh layer of urgency to the roster conversation. The Raiders are trying to sort out what they have, what they need and how aggressively they should act, all while the quarterback situation and the defensive issues remain front and center. For a team already searching for stability, the next move may be just as important as the last one. [Read more 🡒]