Raiders Could Stand Pat At Deadline Except For A Minor Move

The Las Vegas Raiders are on the edge of being in the playoff picture, but they probably won’t be making any major moves to improve their position, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. 

He cited the calculations of coach Klint Kubiak, which change weekly depending on the opponent and how the Raiders perform. Kubiak has seen a team that can stay close enough to compete with the best teams in the NFL, but there’ s a talent shortfall right now that prevents them from closing that gap. 

Per McFadden, they’re not in a position to make a big deal for a wide receiver or an interior defensive lineman, with the latter position especially being an area of need. Their biggest trade asset is defensive end Maxx Crosby, who now says he wants to be with the team for a long time. 

The coach also said he’s “proud to coach the guys that we're coaching,” which is a strong indicator that the Raiders will likely stand pat. 

McFadden also noted that the Raiders might have exceeded expectations by starting out 3-0 and getting to .500 afer eight weeks. It’s the first time the team has done that since 2021, the writer added, and Las Vegas has most of the pieces in place for long-term success. 

Kubiak is the big one, largely for his innovative play-calling and offensive mind, but he’s also shown that he’s not overwhelmed by the step up to head coach at all. His mistakes have been minimal, and he's run a tight ship so far. His defensive coordinator, Rob Leonard, might be a different story, despite the vote of confidence he just got from Kubiak.

They also have the right quarterback in a developmental phase in Fernando Mendoza, and veteran Kirk Cousins was playing well until Sunday’s second-half meltdown. 

The secondary is made up mostly of rookies, but cornerback Hezekiah Masses has a chance to stick, and Treydan Stukes has played well at times while learning the pro game. 

McFadden mentioned Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Josh Downs of the Indianapolis Colts who young enough for a “forward looking” trade, to use the Raiders’ term for it. But the cost might be prohibitive with multiple teams interested, and Kubiak might want to stand pat there as well. 

The one player who does seem likely to be moved in a minor deal is Jackson Powers-Johnson, who has struggled after having a good camp. He’s been replaced by Caleb Rogers and Trey Zuhn III, and Powers-Johnson might still have value as a former second-round pick.