Just a month ago, the Las Vegas Raiders looked like a team with real playoff life. Four straight losses later, they’ve stumbled to 3-4 and suddenly find themselves in a much different conversation. A club that was being discussed as a possible buyer at the trade deadline may now end up on the selling side.
That doesn’t mean Las Vegas should automatically sit still.
On Tuesday, the Indianapolis Colts sent eight-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick. For a player of that caliber, the price was light enough to make you pause and wonder whether Raiders general manager John Spytek should have pushed harder to get involved.
The draft capital involved wasn’t steep, especially for one of the league’s top guards. And while the Raiders’ own picks are likely to be much higher on the board than Seattle’s, the deal still showed that adding an elite interior offensive lineman didn’t require a massive haul. Even with Las Vegas sliding in the standings, that doesn’t make it a bad time to keep exploring moves that could help both now and later.
If the Raiders still believe they have something to play for this season, beefing up the offensive line would be an obvious place to start. Putting Nelson next to Tyler Linderbaum would go a long way toward reshaping the interior of the line. Spytek may value the team’s upcoming draft picks, particularly if Las Vegas is picking near the top of each round, but there’s nothing wrong with checking the market and seeing what’s out there.
The need is real. Without a strong offensive line, everything gets harder, and that has shown up for Las Vegas in the run game, which has been inept because of the issues up front.
Nelson is also in the final year of his contract and set to become a free agent, which makes the move easy to question on the surface. Why trade for a 30-year-old guard on an expiring deal if you’re trying to build for the future?
The answer is that this kind of move would still fit that bigger picture. It wouldn’t just be about salvaging this season.
There’s also the money to sort through. Linderbaum is already the highest-paid center in the league, while Nelson is on a contract worth $20 million per year.
He would presumably want even more than Peter Skoronski and Tyler Smith, who each make at least $24 million annually. That kind of commitment might sound complicated, but it’s also workable.
The Raiders aren’t already locked into huge money on a pile of cornerstone pieces. Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers are both still on rookie deals, and Mendoza won’t be making significant money for the foreseeable future. That gives Las Vegas room to spend a little more where it matters most and give its future franchise quarterback more support.
All offseason, the Raiders’ ownership, Spytek, and head coach Klint Kubiak have talked about building this thing patiently. That plan still stands. But if a chance comes along to land a high-end player who can help now and down the road at a reasonable cost, that’s the kind of opportunity a team has to seriously consider.
In Other News...
Raiders Just Put Dont'e Thornton Jr. Under A Real Spotlight
The Raiders have finally brought Dont'e Thornton Jr. back onto the active roster, a move that comes after head coach Klint Kubiak had been non-committal about whether the rookie receiver would be ready in time. His return gives Las Vegas another pass-catching option at a time when the offense could use all the help it can get, especially with Jack Bech also expected back at practice soon after a broken forearm.
Thornton's activation also forced a roster decision, and the Raiders chose to make it on the defensive side of the ball. For a team still sorting out how its receiving mix will look moving forward, the timing adds a little more pressure to Thornton to show he can contribute quickly and make the most of the opening he was given. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Roster Shakeup Could Be Just The Start
The Raiders made a roster tweak this week by activating Donte Thornton Jr. and moving on from Jonah Laulu, who could circle back to the practice squad. Its the kind of housekeeping that comes with a long season, but it also fits a team still sorting through its depth and trying to find a workable mix after another rough stretch.
What makes the move more interesting is that it may not be the last one. Jack Bech is expected back from injury soon, and his return could force another shuffle at wide receiver as Las Vegas keeps reworking the bottom of the roster. Beyond that, the Raiders are still dealing with the broader noise around the team, from former wideout Zay Jones landing with Arizona to fresh chatter about Maxx Crosby as the losses keep piling up. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Fans Should Watch One AFC Team Closely Before The Trade Deadline
With the trade deadline nearing, the AFC has started to separate into teams that look ready to make a move and teams that are more likely to sit tight. ESPNs Jeremy Fowler said the Chargers have not shown interest in dealing players, even while pointing to Khalil Mack, Quentin Johnston and Donte Jackson as names to monitor, while the Chiefs could be forced to look at receiver help before the deadline, with Josh Downs and Jerry Jeudy mentioned as possible fits.
The Jets are another team worth watching from a Raiders perspective because their situation keeps pulling attention in different directions. The Athletics Zack Rosenblatt said Garrett Wilson is unlikely to be moved unless New York gets a massive return, while Aaron Glenn is expected to keep coaching through the season despite growing pressure to improve the team. If the Jets decide to get aggressive, their decisions could ripple beyond New York and shape the market for Las Vegas as it tries to track who is actually available. [Read more 🡒]