The Las Vegas Raiders made a big splash in free agency last offseason when they signed star defensive tackle Christian Wilkins to a four-year, $110 million contract. He ended up getting limited to five games after he suffered a broken foot, though, and reports indicate that he could miss a substantial amount of time with this injury again in 2025. As a result, the front office may have to reinforce their defensive line before the start of the season.
It’s been a busy past few months for the Raiders front office, led by general manager John Spytek, and it doesn’t look like it will be slowing down as training camp arrives. With Wilkins’ status up in the air, let’s take a look at a trade pitch for Las Vegas that would reunite them with one of their former draft picks, Shelby Harris.
Raiders’ Shelby Harris Trade Pitch
Raiders get: Shelby Harris
Browns get: 2026 seventh-round pick
Harris initially broke into the league as a seventh-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft with the Raiders. He played eight games with them over two seasons, but he ended up getting released. After spending time with the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys, Harris latched on with the Denver Broncos, where he ended up turning himself into an everyday starter. In five seasons with the Broncos, Harris racked up 21.5 sacks and 34 tackles for a loss.
Harris ended up landing with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022 as part of the Russell Wilson trade, but he only spent one season with them before signing with the Browns in free agency. However, he may end up getting boxed out of a starting role after the team selected star defensive tackle Mason Graham with the No. 5 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft.
As he heads into his age-34 season, Harris’ time with the Browns could be coming to an end. Whether he gets released or traded, it makes a lot of sense from a financial perspective for Cleveland to move on from Harris. If they were to trade him, they would save $2.22 million in cap space, which would incentivize them to find a partner, rather than just cutting him outright.
The Raiders would make sense here, especially if it involved giving up just a seventh-round pick. If Wilkins ends up missing an extended period of time, Las Vegas is headed up a creek without a paddle. They could take a flier on Harris to see if he can fill in, especially since he has familiarity with the team, even though they were in Oakland instead of Las Vegas back when he got drafted in 2014.
Would Raiders, Browns Be Interested in This Shelby Harris Trade?
GettyCould the Raiders reunite with Shelby Harris by swinging a trade with the Browns?
Before making this trade, the Browns have to assess the state of their defensive line. If they feel they no longer need Harris, which could be possible since they will likely be embracing a youth movement in 2025, then trading him makes sense. It may be tough since other teams could just wait for Cleveland to inevitably release him, but the Raiders may be motivated to beat their competition to the punch.
For Las Vegas, giving up just a seventh-round pick to land Harris is a price worth paying considering the need and his familiarity with the club. They could conceivably wait for him to get cut, but they could potentially be outbid for another team. If the Browns want to explore a trade for Harris, this deal would make a lot of sense for both sides, making this a situation worth watching as training camp draws near.
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