The Raiders have gone from easy dismissal in August to a team sitting right on the playoff line in November, and that shift puts the Nov. 10 trade deadline squarely in the spotlight. Las Vegas was expected to be one of the league’s worst teams again, but after eight weeks it is in playoff contention. With a tough stretch still ahead, the roster looks more like one that needs reinforcement than a teardown.
That makes the deadline a chance for the Silver and Black to show where they really stand. One move could change the way this team competes, and the timing lines up perfectly for a front office that wants to act like a buyer.
On offense, the clearest need is a receiver who can help open things up for Ashton Jeanty. The sixth overall pick in the 2025 draft has been under heavy fire lately, sitting at 3.1 yards per carry and losing his workhorse role to Mike Washington Jr. last week. Rex Ryan has gone as far as calling him “the worst running back draft pick in 20 years.”
But the problem is bigger than Jeanty alone. Defenses are crowding the box because Las Vegas does not have many threats beyond tight end Brock Bowers, which makes life miserable for the run game.
If the Raiders want more consistency on the ground, they need someone on the outside who can win one-on-one. There are names out there, too.
Brian Thomas Jr. was not targeted once in Thursday night’s game, and the former LSU receiver was once viewed as a first-round talent before settling into a backup role. Calvin Ridley of the Tennessee Titans is another option, though his production has fallen sharply since he left Atlanta.
The defense has its own urgent hole, and it starts with Maxx Crosby. The player known as “The Condor” has three sacks through eight games, and opposing offenses are making sure he feels every bit of their attention.
He is getting doubled on nearly every snap, and he remains the Raiders’ only true pass-rush threat. Once teams take him out of the picture, they’ve had success.
The run defense has been just as shaky. Guards are getting to the second level too easily, and Las Vegas keeps losing at the point of attack.
Nakobe Dean showed well in the first three games, but his play has tailed off since then. What this defense needs is a body in the middle who can hold up and steady things.
That kind of player is not easy to find, but there are a few possibilities on the market. Daron Payne of the Washington Commanders and Grover Stewart of the Indianapolis Colts would both make sense. Either one would give Crosby and the rest of the defense the support it has been missing.
In Other News...
Broncos Face Early Roster Pressure Around J.K. Dobbins And Secondary
Maxx Crosby has been one of the more steady voices around the Raiders as camp chatter starts to settle into real roster questions, and he sounded encouraged by where the team is headed. The veteran edge rusher said he likes the locker room and trusts the new leadership, while also pointing to both Klint Kubiak and first-time defensive coordinator Rob Leonard as reasons for his optimism about the direction of the group.
On offense, the conversation around Ashton Jeanty has already taken on a familiar training-camp split: what he has done as a receiver versus what he has shown as a runner. Offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko said Jeantys work in the passing game has been stronger than his production on the ground, but the team is treating the rushing issues as something bigger than one back, a sign that the Raiders are still sorting out how the whole offense wants to function. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders May Have Found A First Round Answer To Their Guard Problem
The Raiders have spent enough time searching for stability inside that any promising young lineman is worth a long look, and Minnesota guard Greg Johnson is starting to look like the kind of first-round option that could fit the bill. He brings the size teams want up front, and his tape points to a blocker who can help in both phases, giving Las Vegas a potential answer to a spot that has been a recurring problem.
What makes Johnson especially intriguing is how much more than a simple guard prospect he appears to be. His versatility gives him appeal across the offensive line, and his work in pass protection and run blocking suggests a player who could step into a bigger role quickly if he continues on this path toward the 2027 NFL Draft. For a Raiders team trying to build real durability in the trenches, that kind of flexibility is hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Already In Trouble Against A 49ers Offense They Can't Slow
The Raiders spent the first half trying to keep pace with a San Francisco offense that came out sharp and stayed that way. The 49ers scored touchdowns on each of their first three possessions and took a 21-10 lead into halftime, with Brock Purdy doing damage both through the air and on the ground while Christian McCaffrey kept finding the end zone.
McCaffreys impact was especially hard on Las Vegas, since he added to a run of scoring that has become part of San Franciscos identity. For the Raiders, the concern is bigger than one bad half against a division contender: if they cannot slow the 49ers rhythm or contain their top playmakers, the margin for a comeback gets thin in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]