The Las Vegas Raiders are in a precarious position at the moment. They’re sitting at 2-4 with the question on everyone’s minds being, “What should they do at the trade deadline?”
Raiders fans have already witnessed a litany of trades around the league, most recently with Robert Quinn getting shipped off to the Philadelphia Eagles. Some in Raider Nation are wondering if their team should pull the trigger as well. The prospect of either buying or selling is looming large over the Silver and Black. Are they all in on making a run this season or will they stick with their war chest full of draft picks?
In all likelihood, the Raiders will find a way to make short-term improvements to their roster with a few tweaks here and there. Sacrificing draft capital for a quick fix, whether it be on defense or offense, just doesn’t seem like a smart gamble. Then again, this is Dave Ziegler we’re talking about. He proved all his doubters wrong right out of the gate when he traded a first and second round pick for Davante Adams. Could he actually do the same again in a span of less than a year? It depends on your school of thought. The fact is, the Raiders’ defense lacks both depth and star players. There’s no guarantee that Ziegler’s picks for next April will pan out, but then how will you ever lay a proper foundation?
Oh, and the argument regarding certain players getting drafted in the last few years is void and null. Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock left a mess for Ziegler and Co. to clean up. You’d think fans would understand that this new regime is trying to start fresh while remaining competitive, which is not an easy thing to do.
CBS Sports Says The Las Vegas Raiders Should Sell
While it’s not my place to tell the Raiders what they should do, CBS Sports isn’t shying away. Cody Benjamin recently wrote in his trade deadline column that the Raiders should be selling. In particular, he noted that both Clelin Ferrell and Johnathan Abram should be flipped for even more draft capital. Essentially, whatever Ziegler can get for them, he should take it. In the grand scheme of things, they’ve both been draft busts. If you acquire picks for them, why not do it?
“No one’s going to pay close to a premium for a box safety approaching free agency, but Abram, 26, hasn’t been in their long-term plans for a while, and perhaps a contender could find use for him in more of a hybrid, hard-hitting role,” said Benjamin with regard to Abram’s current value. As for Ferrell, maybe the Atlanta Falcons could take him? Benjamin elaborated on that as well, “The former first-rounder’s price tag should be low thanks to an underwhelming run in Vegas, and the Falcons, sneakily competitive in the NFC South, are still sorely lacking in the pass rush department. Maybe a change of scenery would allow the Clemson product to land a modest deal and stick in Atlanta beyond 2022.”
It’s going to be an interesting few days in Raider Nation. Some are imploring the team to make a blockbuster-level move. Others are more patient and realize such a move is highly unlikely.
Raiders News: Darren Waller Practicing, Raider Nation Reacts
*Top Photo: NBC Sports/Bay Area
