The Raiders’ Week 9 trip to Santa Clara could do more than shape the standings. It may end up deciding what Las Vegas does at the trade deadline.
At 4-4 after beating the Jets in Week 8, the Raiders are sitting in a tricky spot. A loss would have handed the front office a fifth straight defeat and made the deadline picture much clearer. Instead, the win left Las Vegas in that awkward middle ground where both directions still make sense.
The problem is the AFC picture. The Raiders are ninth in the conference playoff race, with the Chiefs, Bengals, Patriots, and Browns holding or chasing the wildcard spots. Klint Kubiak and the roster still want to push for a postseason run, but the path is tight.
Now comes a tough one. The Raiders face the 6-1 49ers on Nov. 8, right after San Francisco’s bye week. That means Las Vegas could walk out of Week 9 with a win and still have only 48 hours to figure out what kind of team it wants to be before the Nov. 10 deadline.
If the Raiders do pull the upset, the move should be pretty narrow: go after a wide receiver. The issue is availability. Brian Thomas Jr., Josh Downs, and George Pickens could all be on the move or stay put, and if none of them can be had, Las Vegas probably stands pat.
Even in a win, Maxx Crosby is still a name to watch. The idea is that the Raiders could still explore moving him and cashing in on the value of a premier pass rusher.
A loss changes the conversation completely. In that case, Las Vegas should be open to dealing multiple key veterans, including Crosby and Kirk Cousins.
That doesn’t mean the Raiders should dump anyone for pennies. If the offers aren’t right, they should hold firm.
The reason the case for selling gets stronger after a loss is the schedule that follows. The Raiders then face the Seahawks, Broncos, and Browns, and the chances of coming out of that stretch above .500 would be slim to none, especially if Week 9 ends in defeat. That’s why John Spytek should be ready to start taking calls and look for value now, before aging productive players drift further from Fernando Mendoza’s timeline.
In Other News...
Mark Davis Just Weighed In On The Raiders QB Tension
The Raiders quarterback picture has a little more clarity from the top, even if the timetable still feels fluid. In a CNBC interview, owner Mark Davis said he does not feel any pressure to rush rookie Fernando Mendoza onto the field this season, a notable stance for a team trying to balance development with stability at the games most important position.
Davis also framed Kirk Cousins as the kind of veteran presence that can help bridge the gap while Mendoza keeps learning the professional game. He said the rookie is progressing well, but there is no need to force the issue right away, which leaves the Raiders with a patient approach for now and a bigger question still hanging over when the next chapter actually begins. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Face A Brutal Maxx Crosby Decision As Deadline Nears
With the November 10 trade deadline approaching, the Raiders are staring at one of the toughest roster calls they could face. Maxx Crosby is not asking out, and the expectation around the league is still that Las Vegas will keep its All-Pro edge rusher, but the phone lines figure to stay busy after a recent trade involving Jeffery Simmons helped push Crosbys market higher.
The challenge for the Raiders is obvious: Crosby remains central to what they do, especially with the current state of the defensive line, yet his value could be at its peak if the team ever decided to listen. Even with the possibility of significant offers coming in, Las Vegas would have to weigh the immediate hit to its defense against the kind of return it would demand to even consider moving one of the franchises most important players. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Fans Just Got A New Reminder Of Al Davis Legacy
Christian Bale is helping bring one of the most influential figures in Raiders history back into the spotlight. Speaking on ESPNs SportsCenter, Bale discussed his role in David O. Russells upcoming movie Madden and described Al Davis as a complicated force who rose through the organization and left a lasting imprint on the Raiders and the NFL.
For Raiders fans, the timing makes the reminder feel especially relevant, with the film set to arrive during the 2026 NFL season. Bale also pointed to Davis once a Raider, always a Raider mindset, along with his civil rights record and broader impact on the league, underscoring why Davis remains such a central part of the franchises identity. [Read more 🡒]