The Las Vegas Raiders aren’t eager to trade away starting wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, but now that Amari Cooper is on the roster, it could be easier to make a deal if it becomes a headache. The San Francisco 49ers were one of the teams interested in Cooper, and could still use wide receiver help.
The 49ers’ wide receiver room has been decimated with injuries, but the team is still hoping to compete this season. Meyers could give them a dependable option. Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report pitched a trade idea that would send a 2026 sixth-round pick and cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. to the Raiders for Meyers.
“They’re dealing with significant injuries and departures at wide receiver and need reinforcements to ensure franchise quarterback Brock Purdy can get the offense back on track in 2025,” Gagnon wrote. “They also rank in the top 10 in cap space at the moment.”
The Raiders have a need at cornerback, and Luter is a 25-year-old former fifth-round pick. He has only played in 10 career games, but could still have some potential.
Too Low of a Price for Meyers
A cornerback with now starts and a sixth-round pick seems like a very low price for a wide receiver who had 1,000 receiving yards last season and didn’t drop a single pass. Yes, any team that trades for Meyers likely has to pay him, but he’s not going to make over $30 million a year like some top wide receivers.
The Raiders would be better off just keeping Meyers and letting him walk in free agency next offseason. The team should only really consider trading him away if there’s a strong offer on the table. Las Vegas shouldn’t take anything less than a third-round pick, which they might receive as a compensatory pick in the future if Meyers signs elsewhere in free agency.
Young WRs Could Lose Playing Time
For much of the offseason, the Raiders seemed content to roll with a young group of wide receivers. Meyers was set to be the No. 1 wide receiver, while third-year player Tre Tucker and rookie Dont’e Thornton appeared to be starters.
However, Cooper’s addition will complicate that. According to head coach Pete Carroll, the young guys might not see as much playing time now that the former Pro Bowler is on the roster.
“We thought a chance to add a guy like [Cooper], with experience, really to help our young guys, might really suit us well,” Carroll told reporters on Thursday.
“And so, for Dont’e [Thornton] on the outside, they’ll be doing a lot of the same stuff. I think Amari’s way can affect him and help him come along. There’s a lot of pressure for him to be the only X over there that we’re kind of going with, so I think this really balances us out well. And I hope it really suits Jack [Bech] and Dont’e.”
Adding Cooper was a win-now move. Carroll wouldn’t have pushed to add him if he didn’t think the Raiders could make a playoff push. That might slow the development of some younger players, but it will help the offense be better in 2025.
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