The Raiders’ third straight loss didn’t just drop them to 3-3. It also sharpened a familiar question: do they keep waiting for the offense to sort itself out, or do they swing big before the trade deadline?
Sunday’s 33-30 defeat to the Buffalo Bills left Las Vegas six points short of being 5-1, and now a big matchup against the reeling Los Angeles Rams looms. The team is still overachieving in some ways, but it also looks like a roster in the middle of a rebuild. And rebuilds sometimes call for a gamble on a talented player who hasn’t quite clicked yet.
That is why the Raiders and general manager John Spytek should at least consider Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
Credit goes to Spytek and head coach Klint Kubiak for handling this rebuild with discipline. Still, there comes a point when patience has to meet opportunity. The Raiders could use a move that raises the ceiling of the offense, especially after Sunday made it clear the wide receiver room does not currently have a true difference-maker.
Thomas checks that box on paper. He has the kind of skill set that can change how a defense plays you, and he would give Las Vegas the kind of high-end receiving threat this offense is missing. The source of concern is obvious: injuries, inconsistency, and at times lackadaisical effort have followed him, and he has looked like a one-year wonder after a standout rookie season two years ago.
Even so, a deal makes sense for the Raiders’ bigger plan. Thomas has a year left on his contract plus the fifth-year option, which would give Spytek and Kubiak two full years to evaluate him in their culture and system.
He also fits what Kubiak wants to do. Thomas has the traits of a true No. 1 receiver, with the vertical juice to threaten defenses at every level. The Raiders already have Tre Tucker on the roster, but there’s no guarantee he’s still in Las Vegas in 2027 as a pending free agent.
And the need is real. The offense is fifth in EPA per pass (+0.16), according to Next Gen Stats, but adding Thomas could push it into another gear and give Kubiak a real chance to win shootouts this season.
With veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, star tight end Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer, Tucker, a healthy Ashton Jeanty and Thomas, the Raiders could have one of the league’s most explosive offenses down the stretch.
That said, a move like this is not the one most people expect Spytek to make. But it is the one he should at least think hard about. Trading for Thomas would show the Raiders are serious about taking advantage of a possible playoff opening, while also giving them a closer look at a gifted receiver who could become a major piece.
In Other News...
Raiders Fans Should Be Careful With The Ashton Jeanty Comparison
Ashton Jeantys early Raiders production has invited an ugly comparison, mostly because the surface numbers look familiar to anyone who remembers Trent Richardsons rapid NFL fade. The caution here is that context matters. Richardson entered the league with a different kind of pre-draft hype and landed behind a stronger blocking environment, while Jeanty has had to navigate a Raiders offense that has not given him much room to work with.
Still, the concerns around Jeanty are real enough to keep the conversation going. His low yards per carry and frequent negative or no-gain runs have been a problem, and the Raiders have not made life easier with poor run blocking, while an ankle issue only adds another layer to the evaluation. The larger point is not that everything is fine, only that it is too early to stamp him with Richardsons fate when the situations around the two backs have not been remotely the same. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Offensive Line Trouble Has Put Spytek Under Early Pressure
With the Raiders trying to steady an offensive line that has already become a concern, the front office made another round of roster adjustments this week. Las Vegas brought in offensive tackles Amari Kight and Darian Kinnard on the practice squad as part of a push to add more protection depth before facing the Los Angeles Rams.
At the same time, the Raiders cleared room by moving on from tight end Chris Myarick and offensive lineman Evan Neal. It is an early sign that general manager John Spytek is willing to keep working the roster aggressively, and the bigger question is how much improvement he can engineer in time to help a unit that needs it quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Backfield Suddenly Has A Workload Question Fans Should Watch
The Raiders left Buffalo with a few encouraging signs in the backfield, even if the loss itself still lingered. Rookie Mike Washington Jr. gave the offense a lift with his running, and head coach Klint Kubiak came away pleased enough to point to better production and effort from the group overall.
Kubiaks comments also suggest this is not turning into a one-back operation just yet. Ashton Jeanty and Dylan Laube remain part of the mix, and the workload split in the weeks ahead should be worth watching as Las Vegas tries to find a steadier rhythm on the ground. [Read more 🡒]