Heading into the season, the Las Vegas Raiders knew they needed more wide receiver depth, which is why they signed Amari Cooper. However, he decided to retire after just a week with the team.
Jakobi Meyers is the Raiders’ No. 1 wide receiver right now, and he played well in Week 1, having eight catches for 97 yards. The problem with him is that he wants a new contract, or he wants to be traded.
Perhaps there’s a scenario where the Raiders could trade him in a package for an upgrade at the position. It’s no secret that A.J. Brown is frustrated with his role with the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s widely regarded as one of the top wide receivers in the NFL, but he only had one catch in Week 1.
That wouldn’t be that big of a deal in a vacuum, but it’s been well known, going back to last year, that Brown isn’t happy with his lack of targets. He was tied for the 43rd-most targets for a player last season, which seems odd for a player making so much money.
It might not be a fixable problem, as quarterback Jalen Hurts is not a high-volume passer. While the Raiders want to run the ball, Geno Smith wants to push the ball down the field and would almost certainly throw Brown the ball early and often.
Could Raiders & Eagles Make Trade?
The Raiders would be a logical trade partner for the Eagles. General managers John Spytek and Howie Roseman used to work together in Philadelphia, and the Raiders poached multiple executives from the Eagles this offseason.
That’s not the only reason the Raiders would make sense if the Eagles are going to trade Brown. They can also offer a capable replacement. A trade that sends a 2026 second-round pick and Meyers to the Eagles for Brown could be a worthwhile deal for both sides.
The Raiders have the salary cap space to absorb Brown’s contract, while getting him off the books would give the Eagles the money they need to pay Meyers, who should be much cheaper. Devonta Smith is likely good enough to be a No. 1 wide receiver, while Meyers is a great No. 2.
Brown Trade Could be Smart for Raiders
Unless the Raiders think Dont’e Thornton has a chance to be a superstar, they’re likely going to use an early draft pick to try to find a No. 1 wide receiver next year. Why not get ahead of things and add a proven star like Brown?
He has been named Second-Team All-Pro in three straight seasons and is widely considered one of the five best wide receivers in the world. The Eagles love him and don’t want to trade him, but he could be a ticking time bomb. There’s no reason to pay a wide receiver all this money if he’s not going to have a role on the offense.
If Brown eventually tries to force his way out, the Raiders could be one of the first teams to call the Eagles. That said, Las Vegas hasn’t had much luck trading for disgruntled star wide receivers in recent years.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Blockbuster Trade Idea Has Raiders Land Frustrated All-Pro WR appeared first on Heavy Sports.