Going into the season, the Raiders were expected to be sellers at the November 10 trade deadline, and the player many were expecting to be a part of trade conversations was Maxx Crosby.
But after a 3-1 start to the season and Crosby seemingly happy with the new order in Las Vegas, the narrative has changed, and many believe the Raiders are going to end up being buyers at the trade deadline.
If the Raiders do end up looking to add players before the trade deadline, it would make sense to add to their defensive line.
Defensive tackle and defensive end are two areas the Raiders could use a boost, especially since Malcolm Koonce is slated to become a free agent after this year.
Could the Raiders pursue Khalil Mack?
It would be a great story if Mack somewhere ended up being back where he never should have left in the first place, but there are a number of reasons it probably won’t happen.
Trade within the division can be difficult enough and it’s hard to imagine GM John Spytek is interested in adding a 35-year-old defensive player who will be entering free agency in five months.
The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones talked Mack this week and he believes the Bears would be a good fit for Mack. He also believes Mack’s trade value will be in the ballpark of a fifth-round pick.
“Mack is on an 0-4 Chargers team and on an expiring contract. He signed a one-year, $18 million deal that includes $8 million in base salary. Trading him this upcoming week would mean a team would need roughly $5 million to $6 million in cap space to take him on,” Jones wrote on Saturday.
“One GM and one assistant GM on different teams slotted Mack’s value as worthy of a fifth-round pick. The Bears have one of those, but the Chargers have shown no interest in dealing any player just yet. Only one team in league history has started 0-4 and made the playoffs, and no team has started 0-5 and seen the postseason. How the Bolts fare against Payton’s Broncos could set things in motion.”
Marvin Harrison trade rumors continue
Speaking of setting things in motion, it sounds like the Texans are the team that has agreed to trade a second-round pick for Marvin Harrison Jr., for reasons unknown, the Texans don’t want to do anything until after the weekend and apparently didn’t even want anyone to know they were the team in the lead for Harrison.
There are several reasons why the Texans might want to wait, but one theory is that they want to wait and see if they start the season with a record of 0-5, as well.
If the Texans don’t beat the 0-4 Titans on Sunday, could they reconsider giving up a premium draft pick for Harrison with the realization they probably aren’t going to playoffs this year?
x: @raidersbeat