Maxx Crosby is still the name that dominates every Raiders trade conversation, but he is not the only Las Vegas player who could draw interest if the season turns sideways. With training camp and the regular season looming, there are several Raiders who could wind up on the move for very different reasons - some because of depth-chart pressure, others because their contracts and roles make them useful trade pieces.
Dont'e Thornton Jr. is the most fragile case on the board. His rookie season didn’t go the way anyone wanted, even if that wasn’t all on him, and there’s already real chatter that he may not be a lock for the 53-man roster.
Rookie Malik Benson is pushing hard for his role, and Thornton doesn’t bring special teams value to help himself. Back in May, Matt Holder of Silver and Black Pride raised the possibility of Thornton being dealt during training camp, writing, "I also think Dont’e Thornton Jr. is feeling the heat and might be a trade candidate during training camp, similar to Jakorian Bennett last year," Holder wrote.
"The Raiders have plenty of speed at wide receiver between Jalen Nailor, Tre Tucker and Malik Benson. So, Thornton is really going to have to step up, or he could be playing elsewhere next season."
If Thornton doesn’t win over the new coaching staff, his trade value may matter less than simply finding someone willing to take a chance.
Jackson Powers-Johnson sits in a different spot. He never really clicked with last year’s coaching staff, and at one point it looked like Pete Carroll was laying the groundwork for a possible move.
That speculation has surfaced again this offseason, though it feels early while he tries to earn trust with a new staff. Powers-Johnson ought to be in line for a starting guard job, but that is far from settled heading into camp.
If he’s not starting in Week 1, his ability to handle all three interior line spots makes him extremely valuable. And if he doesn’t look right to this coaching staff either, other teams could talk themselves into a reclamation project.
Even if he plays well, the Raiders could still see him as a trade chip later if younger players keep pushing behind him and the season goes off the rails.
Jeremy Chinn is another name worth watching, even after a solid first year in Las Vegas in 2025. He’s heading into a contract year, and new defensive coordinator Rob Leonard is expected to use him in a way that better fits his strengths.
Still, the Raiders also drafted Treydan Stukes and Dalton Johnson, which signals some planning for the future at safety. If the season develops the wrong way - or if another team loses a starting safety - Chinn could become a very real trade option.
He might also simply play well enough to earn an extension instead of a move. Either way, he’s on the radar.
Kirk Cousins may be the most obvious short-term answer under center, but that doesn’t make him untouchable. He is the favorite to start Week 1, and if Fernando Mendoza eventually takes over, Cousins would still be a useful veteran backup for a rebuilding team.
But if a team loses its starter before Week 1 or early in the season, John Spytek would likely hear from interested clubs. In that kind of scenario, the Raiders would hold the leverage.
The odds of a Cousins trade still feel low, but the idea cannot be brushed aside.
Aidan O'Connell also fits into that quarterback picture. Spending his contract year as the Raiders’ No. 3 would not be ideal, but if Cousins becomes tradeable because of Mendoza’s rise, O'Connell would move up to No. 2 and suddenly be one snap away from the field.
That kind of experience matters around the league. Teams sorting out their depth charts in camp and the preseason could view him as a useful backup option, and some clubs may simply be looking to upgrade that spot once the season begins.
For now, Crosby remains the headline. But if the Raiders’ season goes the wrong direction, the list of names that could come up in trade talks is longer than just their star edge rusher.
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