It’s very possible that the Las Vegas Raiders can still put together a respectable season, but it’s clear that they don’t have the roster talent to make any noise in the playoffs. That’s not a huge surprise.
The team favored a more frugal approach in free agency so that the new coaching staff and front office could get a better idea of what the biggest roster needs are. It’s clear now that the Raiders still need a lot of work. The roster is very young, so there aren’t many valuable veterans they could trade away.
However, one player who could get the Raiders a solid return is wide receiver Jakobi Meyers. He has already requested a trade, but the team didn’t grant his request. If the Raiders keep losing, they might be more open to moving on from the veteran wideout.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano floated the Pittsburgh Steelers as a possible fit.
“I feel the Steelers have pivoted a bit, and if they make an in-season move, it would more likely be to help their struggling defense,” Graziano wrote. “But since you were asking about receivers, I remember Jakobi Meyers asking for a new contract from the Raiders in the offseason and then asking to be traded when he didn’t get one. If Las Vegas tumbles out of contention and he’s not in its long-term plans, he could help someone down the stretch.”
What Value Does Meyers Have?
The Raiders can’t expect to get much for Meyers in a trade. While he’s a very good wide receiver, he’s on an expiring deal and wants a bigger contract.
The ceiling for what Las Vegas could get is likely a fourth-round pick. The Raiders only got a third-round pick for Davante Adams last year, and he’s a much bigger name. Meyers is younger than Adams was and cheaper, but it’s hard to see a team offering too much to take him on.
Is a fourth-round pick worth it to lose your best wide receiver? That largely depends on what the Raiders’ record is at the trade deadline. If they are far out of the playoff race, it would make sense to trade Meyers for some value instead of letting him walk in free agency for nothing.
Can Tre Tucker Be a No. 1 WR?
Another reason why trading Meyers might be more digestible now is the emergence of Tre Tucker. In Week 3, he had eight catches for 145 yards and three touchdowns. Now, a lot of those yards and two of those touchdowns came when the game was out of reach, but it was still an impressive stat line.
He’s proving to be a legit downfield threat with his elite speed. Tucker used to struggle with his hands, but it seems he has worked out those kinks. Tucker’s numbers may be even better this season if the Raiders’ offensive line were giving Geno Smith more time to throw the ball downfield.
Tucker has shown some really strong flashes in his first two seasons, and he might finally be putting things together.
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