Could D.J. Moore arrive and Maxx Crosby depart? See two bold Raiders trades poised to reshape their future.
The Las Vegas Raiders enter 2026 at a turning point in their franchise. They finished with just three wins in 2025 despite placing lofty expectations on themselves. Now, a vital offseason is in store for Las Vegas that'll determine the future of the franchise for the foreseeable future.
They have the first overall selection in this year’s draft, and the NFL Combine is just a few days away. There will be a lot of excitement coming into the Raiders’ squad via the draft, but it’s going to take more than drafting to right the ship in Las Vegas.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine put up an article on Friday that had hypothetical trades for each team in the NFL, and the Raiders found themselves involved in two such deals.
The first of which was them landing receiver D.J. Moore in exchange for a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft. A move for a proven receiver makes sense for the Raiders, with all signs pointing towards them selecting quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the draft. With minimal receiving weapons, the Raiders need to make sure they give Mendoza good options on the outside.
Though Moore took a step back in 2025, he still tallied 761 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns with the Chicago Bears. Moore’s eight years of experience would be a perfect match for a rookie quarterback looking to get comfortable in the NFL. Still just 28 years old, Moore could still be a productive receiving option for several more years.
The second trade the Raiders were mentioned in was one where they sent away star edge rusher Maxx Crosby for a first-round pick, a second-round pick, and Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold. Tensions have been high between Crosby and the Raiders for too long now, and there were many believing he would’ve been dealt before last year’s trade deadline. That didn’t happen, but this offseason could finally be the right time for the front office to pull the trigger.
Las Vegas is in full rebuild mode in 2026, and Crosby doesn't quite fit the timeline of the team anymore. At 28 years old and with a desire to play winning football, it may be in the interest of both parties to work out a deal this offseason. Adding two early-round draft picks in a hypothetical deal would boost the Raiders’ chances at a successful rebuild and finally turning things around for a franchise that’s largely been unsuccessful since the turn of the century.