Klint Kubiak didn’t sugarcoat it after the Raiders’ preseason win. He wanted more from his wide receivers, and he said the group backed up instead of moving forward. With Tre Tucker not suiting up Thursday against the Houston Texans and no clear bona fide lead receiver in place, Las Vegas looks like a team that may need help fast.
Kubiak laid it out plainly on Friday:
" We have to get a lot better very fast. We took a step backwards.
Doesn't mean we can’t go forward, but right now we are trying to find someone that is accountable and can help us on Sunday. Still looking.”
That kind of comment puts the trade market on the table, and the Raiders have a few names worth checking on.
Kayshon Boutte is one option. The New England Patriots signed Romeo Doubs and acquired A.J.
Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles, which means Boutte’s role would take a real hit. He put together a solid 2024 season with 33 catches for 551 yards and six touchdowns, and ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported he has drawn trade interest since June.
Boutte is in a contract year, and at 24, he’d have plenty to prove if he landed somewhere with a clearer path to targets. For the Raiders, the appeal is obvious: no need to pay him now, and Las Vegas is projected to have $59 million in cap space next offseason.
If he keeps trending up, he could give the offense a field-stretching complement to Brock Bowers.
Marquise Brown is another name to watch. The Philadelphia Eagles gave him a fully guaranteed one-year, $5 million deal, but he’s had a quiet offseason.
Because the Eagles are on the hook for the full contract, a release seems unlikely, which makes a trade the more realistic route if they decide Brown is surplus. Philadelphia has added Elijah Moore, acquired Dontayvion Wicks from the Green Bay Packers and moved up to take Makai Lemon with the No. 20 overall pick.
Darius Cooper has also been one of the standouts in camp, and that gives the Eagles enough depth behind DeVonta Smith to at least consider moving Brown rather than carrying him as a No. 4 or No. 5 option. The teams have done business before, too, with Philadelphia sending Thomas Booker IV to Las Vegas for Jakorian Bennett last August.
Darnell Mooney is the third name that should be on the Raiders’ radar, even if he isn’t in the rumor mill yet. New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh said Malik Nabers has made progress in his recovery from a torn ACL, though he added:
" Thought he looked good. Don't think he's at full-speed yet."
Nabers might still be ready for the season opener in three weeks, and if his status keeps moving in the right direction, the Giants could look at moving one of their other additions at receiver. They signed Mooney, Calvin Austin III, Odell Beckham Jr. and Braxton Berrios, then drafted Malachi Fields in the third round.
Mooney has been a productive complementary target, including a 2021 season with the Chicago Bears in which he led the team with 81 receptions for 1,055 yards and four touchdowns. In 2024 with Kirk Cousins on the Atlanta Falcons, he caught 64 passes for 992 yards and five touchdowns.
That prior connection could matter if the Raiders decide to call.
For a receiver room that still needs answers, those are three names Las Vegas should be looking at now.
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