Raiders Mailbag: Will Las Vegas be buyers at the NFL trade deadline?
The Las Vegas Raiders are gearing up for a large Week 4 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, and the shock 3-0 Raiders have an opportunity to complete the first quarter of the 2026 season atop the AFC West. But this week’s mailbag has quite a lot of questions on Las Vegas’ roster and any potential adjustments, shifting the focus to that and any potential adjustments.
Q: Do the Raiders trade for a large receiver in the event that they proceed successful, or do they stand pat and anticipate the draft to get their future No. 1?
A: Someone else requested the same query: if the Raiders are at or above .500 at the halfway point of the season, do you think they should be a buyer at the trade deadline?
In my opinion, I don’t suppose John Spytek and Klint Kubiak ought to veer too distant from the offseason plan of constructing for the future. Sure, the Raiders are having an awesome season and are considered one of the largest surprises in the NFL up to now. But the group’s aim was by no means to be good for only one 12 months; it’s about constructing a sustainable winner for a number of years to return.
So, particularly if the staff is at or above .500 round the trade deadline, it positively is smart for them to go after a younger large receiver like Brian Thomas Jr. and Marvin Harrison Jr., in the event that they’re accessible. Those two are 24 years previous (Thomas turns 24 subsequent week), had been extremely regarded prospects, and would be beneath staff management for 2 to a few years since they had been first-round picks and have the fifth-year possibility on their contracts.
Obviously, Thomas and Harrison aren’t figuring out of their present conditions; in any other case, we wouldn’t be speaking about them as trade candidates. However, the Raiders would be in a position to get a first-round expertise at a place of want at a reduction, and whereas they’re nonetheless on comparatively low-cost contracts.
According to Over The Cap, Thomas is making about $4 million this year and about $4.7 million in 2027, whereas Harrison is making $9.6 million and $11.3 million. That’s chump change in at present’s receiver market the place 27 guys are making $20 million per year or more. So, if it solely takes, say, a third- or fourth-round choose to get a kind of guys, I believe Spytek ought to try this, particularly since the Raiders are taking part in their manner out of Jeremiah Smith territory.
Now, on the subject of including an older veteran — Terry McLaurin and Vita Vea are a few names that come to thoughts — Spytek ought to be extra price-sensitive, in my view. Would McLaurin and Vea make the Raiders a greater staff proper now? Absolutely. However, once more, don’t mortgage the future or lose sight of the long-term aim simply to enhance the roster for half a season and perhaps yet another 12 months after that.
If it’s one thing like a fifth-rounder or later, I can get on board with that, and you possibly can in all probability sway me right into a fourth.
The Raiders did an awesome job of including younger expertise this offseason, and it’s paying dividends with guys like Nakobe Dean (25, turns 26 in December), Treydan Stukes (25), Hezekiah Masses (22), and so on., already taking part in effectively. If you’re asking me, veering away from that technique and giving up important draft capital for gamers who’re of their 30s is a nasty and short-sighted resolution. But once more, if Spytek can get somebody like that for affordable, go for it!
Q: Be sincere now. Before the season, did you’ve got the 3-0 Raiders in your bingo card? If no, what document?
A: Hell no! LOL! Heading into the season, I assumed they’d be 1-2 with losses to the Chargers and Saints. But belief me, nobody is happier that I used to be incorrect than I’m. I underestimated how rapidly Kubiak may flip the tradition round, and I couldn’t be extra excited for the future, together with how the remainder of this season performs out.
Q: Will Treydan Stukes, as a extra invaluable beginning FS, be faraway from particular groups responsibility in favor of utilizing Isaiah Pola-Mao? The rookie’s damage threat appears too excessive.
A: I actually hope so as a result of Vegas doesn’t have one other good possibility at free security, as we came upon (and form of already knew) as soon as Stukes suffered the concussion towards the Chargers. What does give me some fear is that Pola-Mao was already on each particular groups unit in Week 1, when Stukes was additionally contributing on particular groups.
However, what offers me hope is that IPM solely took three particular groups snaps (all on the punt protection staff) with Stukes out final week, per Pro Football Focus. Tristin McCollum — who was energetic and performed on particular groups in Week 1 however inactive for Week 2 — stuffed in for IPM on particular groups in New Orleans. So, it looks like the teaching employees realized its lesson and goes to maintain key starters off particular groups transferring ahead.
Q: Excited to see that Stukes appears able to play towards the Chiefs. That stated, why oh why did IPM play 100% of the FS snaps final week? Five catches on 5 targets with 3 TDs and a missed deal with, based on PFF. Any informal Raiders fan may’ve advised Rob Leonard to anticipate these outcomes. He couldn’t rotate Tristin McCollum in for a few drives right here or there? Really? Where is Dalton Johnson? Would you quite see IPM at free security than Dalton? IPM is a incredible backup field security, however I’m accomplished seeing him at the again of our protection.
A: I hear ya, however the solely one that can provide you a truthful or non-speculative reply to quite a lot of your questions right here is Rob Leonard.
My tackle the matter is that McCollum completely ought to have gotten an opportunity to play final week. I don’t know if the outcomes would have been a lot totally different as a result of he isn’t free security both, however Pola-Mao clearly wasn’t getting the job accomplished. Leonard would possibly as effectively give another person a shot at that time, whether or not that be McCollum or one other defensive again on the roster.
As for Johnson, he’s been a wholesome scratch each recreation up to now. Apparently, the teaching employees doesn’t suppose he’s able to see the subject, particularly since final week would have been an awesome alternative for him to decorate for the first time. I’ll say that Johnson profiles extra as a giant nickel or field security; nevertheless, as you identified, so does Pola-Mao.
Luckily, Stukes is again for Sunday, so this shouldn’t be a difficulty transferring ahead. Hopefully, if he does must miss time down the street, Leonard realized his lesson and can give somebody aside from Pola-Mao an opportunity to patrol the again finish of the protection.
Q: I believe Eric Stokes looks like teammate and loves being a Raider. He doesn’t look like a man who will get his contract after which stops working arduous. Why do you suppose his recreation has fallen off?
A: One of my considerations with Stokes is that he isn’t slot in the protection scheme that Leonard is working. Stokes has quite a lot of linear velocity, however he doesn’t have good lateral motion expertise and is tight hipped, making it tough to vary instructions. That’s not as huge of a deal when a cornerback is taking part in quite a lot of spot dropping coverages like conventional Cover 3 and 4.
However, Leonard is utilizing quite a lot of sample matching coverages. The scheme falls into the Cover 3 or Cover 4 household, but it surely’s totally different than simply attending to a landmark and taking part in that space. I prefer to name sample matching “man coveage with more rules”, the place a nook will cowl a receiver provided that the receiver runs a sure route or reaches a sure depth. And if the receiver doesn’t cross the threshold, then the nook strikes onto discover one other pass-catcher who suits into their protection guidelines or appears to assist a teammate in protection.
So, it’s form of a hybrid between man and zone protection, the place defenders get to an space at first after which play man if a risk enters into it. That manner the protection isn’t giving up as many throwing home windows to the quarterback (a weak spot of zone protection) whereas not stepping into unhealthy matchups the place a linebacker has to cowl a deep route (a weak spot of man protection). Also, there are quantity of situtaions the place a nook will play pure man protection whereas the remainder of the protection is in zone. It’s referred to as ‘MEG’, which stands for Man Everywhere he Goes, if anybody needs to nerd out on it.
Circling again to Stokes, he’s primarily getting overwhelmed when he has to cowl sharp-breaking routes as a result of he struggles to vary instructions. He’s greatest when he can simply use his velocity to remain ontop of routes and play with exterior leverage, which is ideal for Cover 3 or non-quarters Cover 4. But his lack of lateral athleticism can be a difficulty when sample matching because it’s just like man protection.
For context, Stokes’ 4.31-second 40-yard sprint time as a draft prospect is in the 96th percentile amongst cornerbacks, per MockDraftable. However, his three-cone (6.96 seconds) and 20-yard shuttle (4.36 seconds), the place change of course and agility come into play, is in the forty fifth and eleventh percentiles repsectively. So, he does have some make-up velocity to recuperate, but it surely’s arduous to depend on that towards good route runners who’re additionally quick.
Now, this isn’t to say that the $30 million nook can’t enhance, or that he received’t get higher at with extra expertise in the system. But it’s one thing to watch for the remainder of the season, particularly since the Raiders have quite a lot of younger expertise at nook.
Q: A Raider fan talked about that Ashton Jeanty isn’t ready to arrange his blocks on the inside and outdoors zone runs. Instead, he’s speeding to the line and dancing behind it. Do you agree? I keep in mind him saying in camp that he needed to be taught to be extra affected person and arrange his blocks. If you agree, why can’t the coaches get by to him? It appears Mike Washington Jr.’s is best at it.
A: Understandably, I acquired quite a lot of questions on Jeanty this week, and I do know there’s been some debate about who ought to be getting extra touches between him and Washington. So, I’m going to make use of this query to sum up my ideas on the matter.
I assumed Jeanty had considered one of the greatest video games of his younger profession towards the Dolphins, then the offensive line let him down in Los Angeles, and he struggled final week, making him 1-1-1 on the season on the subject of working the ball, if you’ll. And I whole-heartedly disagree with the notion that Washington has higher imaginative and prescient and is the higher general working again regardless of the rookie averaging extra yards per carry (6.8 to 3.3).
Defenses are taking part in the run extra when Jeanty is in the recreation, as he’s confronted a considerably increased share of ‘stacked boxes’ (that means eight or extra defenders on the first and second ranges) each week (see my publish/tweet under for the actual numbers). Also, based on Next Gen Stats, Jeanty has confronted the second-highest share of stacked bins (38.1%) amongst certified working backs in the NFL.
I genuinely suppose he re-injured his ankle in New Orleans and didn’t have the agility to make the cuts that we’ve seen from him in the previous. Sprained ankles can be difficult and are simple to irritate, particularly for those who attempt to rush the restoration course of, and I believe that’s getting misconstrued as him having unhealthy imaginative and prescient. Jeanty seemed like he was having a tough time slicing and ended up simply barreling his head all the way down to get what he can by the finish of the recreation.
That being stated, if the lead again isn’t 100%, Washington has performed effectively sufficient to earn extra carries. Kubiak stated as a lot, so I think about he’s going to be a much bigger a part of the recreation plan for at least the subsequent few weeks given the circumstances. But I do suppose Washington’s effectivity goes to lower with extra touches and extra consideration positioned on him.
A: To be clear, once I talked about Jeanty being 1-1-1 up to now this season, I used to be solely speaking about working the ball. The three drops towards the Chargers had been unhealthy and inexcusable. However, he’s caught actually each different cross that’s come his solution to be 13 for 16 with 97 receiving yards and two touchdowns by three video games. So, I’d argue Jeanty is 2-1 as a receiver up to now this season.
As far as Washington goes, he’s not route runner out of the backfield to be a respectable possibility in the passing recreation. He’s a linear athlete quite than the latter, and it’s important to have the latter to be in a position to successfully run possibility routes, which is the basis of route-running again. Dylan Laube is forward of him in that division, although Laube does want to carry onto the rattling ball!
Even at Arkansas, Washington wasn’t a lot of a risk as a receiver. He had 28 catches for 226 yards and a landing final 12 months, however that was nearly completely swing passes, screens and verify downs. Essentially, prolonged handoffs. The rookie nonetheless has to develop to be a much bigger a part of the passing recreation transferring ahead.
A: For what it’s price, PFF has Linderbaum (59.5) as the Raiders’ third-highest graded offensive lineman by three weeks, with Kolton Miller (75.6) and DJ Glaze (63.8) forward of him. I nonetheless suppose Linderbaum is the greatest or most proficient participant on the line, however Miller and Glaze are taking part in fairly effectively proper now. Get this: PFF has Glaze with just one strain allowed this season. He’s actually stunned me up to now.
The guards are a difficulty, nevertheless. Spencer Burford has been terrible in cross safety, tying for the most pressures allowed at the position with 12, whereas Jackson Powers-Johnson retains making an attempt to go for pancakes and lacking in the working recreation. To be honest, Burford has been a good run blocker, and JPJ has been strong in cross professional, however neither is a whole participant at this stage.
With Caleb Rogers, presumptively, getting a begin rather than Powers-Johnson this week, I wouldn’t be stunned to see a Hezekiah Masses-Darien Porter kind of scenario in Week 5. As for Burford, I suppose Trey Zuhn III would be the subsequent possibility. However, Zuhn has been taking part in much more deal with. There isn’t a transparent alternative, with the different guard choices being Bryce Cabeldue, who was simply introduced on just a few weeks in the past, and Evan Neal, who was additionally added after coaching camp and is at present on the follow squad.
Defensively, Malcolm Koonce was strong in the first two video games and had a extremely good efficiency final week. He appears extra like the man we noticed pre-ACL tear, and I’m hoping the Saints recreation was simply what he wanted to construct some momentum transferring ahead. Kwity Paye performed effectively in the season opener however has positively blended in additional over the final two video games.
The defensive tackles form of are what they’re at this level. Foley Fatukasi is doing a little good issues in the working recreation by getting penetration, and I really feel like Tonka Hemingway is getting higher each week. Hemingway nonetheless struggles towards double groups/combo blocks, however he’s doing a lot better when left one-on-one. I believe the arrow is pointing up for him, however I’m additionally anticipating the inside defensive position to be a high precedence in the offseason (once more).
A: Nailor has been open on a handful of events however the ball went someplace else. The first play that involves thoughts is Tre Tucker’s lengthy landing towards the Chargers. Nailor was occupying the security on a deep curl route that helped get Tucker open, however Nailor was additionally in a position to create separation. Obviously, Cousins made the proper resolution there; I’m simply saying it was additionally rep from Nailor. And there have been just a few different occasions the place he may have been focused; that’s simply the one that stands proud the most in my thoughts.
So, I wouldn’t slap the bust tag on him simply but. But I’ll acknowledge that his manufacturing has been disappointing up to now, particularly since Brock Bowers missed the first two video games. It’s price maintaining a tally of the free-agent addition all through the season, however I wouldn’t leap to conclusions at this stage.
A: Leonard saved the scheme fairly easy to start the Saints recreation, at least in comparison with the first two weeks. Then, he began dialing up the simulated pressures and complicated appears, which helped result in the fourth-quarter turnovers. I like that technique when dealing with a younger quarterback like Tyler Shough as a result of it retains them on their toes and will get them to doubt what they’re seeing.
I’m positive Shough went into the contest anticipating to see unique coverages and strain packages. So, if the coordinator retains it easy at the starting, the quarterback continues to be confused as a result of he’s anticipating the image to vary post-snap, but it surely isn’t. Then, when he begins getting used to that, the defensive play caller can combine it up and play the cat-and-mouse recreation.
Also, I believe the Raiders/Leonard had been primarily making an attempt to remove the deep pictures from Shough since he was actually the greatest deep ball passer in the first two weeks of the season. So, the protection was taking part in to stop explosive performs, and Shough did job of taking what was given to him. For all the things I stated about complicated a younger quarterback, I give Shough a ton of credit score as a result of he dealt with it effectively and the defensive technique wasn’t as efficient as hoped. It’s form of a ‘tip your cap’ second, if you’ll.
That’s a giant cause why New Orleans had a lot success focusing on the flats. Also, it didn’t assist that when Leonard did dial up some strain, Taron Johnson practically acquired overwhelmed for a landing, LOL!
A: I don’t suppose you’re worrying an excessive amount of since you are proper that counting on turnovers isn’t sustainable week-to-week, particularly when dealing with higher and extra veteran quarterbacks. Picking up from the query above, I do suppose Leonard has a extremely good scheme to assist drive quarterbacks into errors, and he’s clearly put an emphasis on punching the ball out.
However, it does make the Raiders’ protection extra reliant on the offense screwing up, which turns into a difficulty when the competitors stage rises as a result of good groups sometimes don’t beat themselves.
At the finish of the day, Las Vegas nonetheless doesn’t have that a lot confirmed expertise defensively. The linebackers have positively improved, Maxx Crosby continues to be a stud, and linemen like Koonce and Hemingway look like they’re beginning to get there. But there are quite a lot of younger guys on the market, and veterans like Stokes and Johnson are benefiting from the errors talked about above.
So, your skepticism actually isn’t unjustified. As effectively as they’ve performed, the protection nonetheless has room for progress to be much less reliant on turnovers as the season goes on and the schedule will get harder. But the excellent news is that the veteran errors haven’t damage but, and the younger guys ought to solely be getting higher with extra expertise. Now, it’s only a matter of placing all of it collectively and actually turning into a shutdown protection.
That’ll do it for this week’s mailbag. Thank you all for submitting questions and, as your weekly reminder, for those who’d prefer to have your questions answered in a future column, tweet them at me, @MHolder95, e mail them to SBPQuestions1@gmail.com or search for our weekly name for questions on the website. The latter will proceed to publish on Thursdays.