Are The Raiders Primed To Make A Major Draft Day Deal?
Las Vegas has the ammunition and needs to make a big splash in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft.
One interesting wrinkle in the 2023 NFL Draft, which doesn’t get mentioned very often, is that the Las Vegas Raiders enter this year’s selection meeting with a league-high 12 picks.
That ‘wrinkle’ becomes increasingly relevant when you factor in the recent aside, mentioned by Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network, regarding the Raiders being “ a team to keep an eye on” when it comes to teams who could possibly swing a trade with the Arizona Cardinals1 for the #3 overall pick in the Draft2.
In addition to the Raiders potentially having the assets needed to make such a trade, there are two more reasons why such a rumor shouldn’t be immediately dismissed as pre-Draft innuendo. Firstly, Benjamin Allbright — a social media NFL insider with a very distinguished track record in matters like these — alluded to a likelihood of the Raiders not picking at #7 overall (ie, where they’re currently slated to pick).
And then there’s the fact that Cardinals General Manager Monti Ossentfort and Raiders General Manager Dave Ziegler worked together as Assistant Directors (and then Directors) in New England’s front office, between 2013 and 2019. Such relationships matter greatly in the NFL; that was a huge part of how Chicago and Carolina were able to consummate the deal for the #1 overall pick.
If you go by most of the NFL Draft pick value charts found online, Las Vegas sending their 2nd round pick (#38 overall), 4th round pick (#109), two 5th round picks (#141 and #144) would get them right in range—while still leaving them with a solid handful of selections to make for themselves3.
If you’re the Cardinals, such a trade would give you three picks among the top 40 selections, while still keeping you in the top seven picks overall. If you’re the Raiders, a day two pick and handful of day three picks is not a steep price to pay at all, to move up into the top three picks of the Draft.
So, who would the Raiders move up to take? On first glance, one would guess quarterback Anthony Richardson from the University of Florida, considering they could have the ideal developmental plan for him (ie, letting him sit behind Jimmy Garoppolo for a season or two)4.
Except, I think the Raiders could/would make this deal with the goal of acquiring one of the two consensus blue chip defensive prospects in the Draft5—specifically, edge rusher Will Anderson from the University of Alabama. Las Vegas needs significant upgrades across their defense6, and lacks the resources to realistically add more players outside the Draft. And while you could argue that the Raiders already have a capable pair of edge rushers in Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones, it’s very possible (if not likely) that the Raiders release the latter because of his age and cap hit.
Regardless, as much as everyone has pointed to the Cardinals as ‘a team to watch’ as far as Draft day trades, I would say that description is increasingly fitting for the Raiders as well. Though, as many have already pointed out: don’t expect such a deal to happen anytime soon—if not during the first round of the Draft itself.
As if we need even more reason for intrigue. ■
Building on the premise that the Arizona Cardinals themselves look primed to make a Draft day deal (to move down), as mentioned in my Mock Draft v1.
Full disclosure: Daniel Jeremiah mentioned both Raiders and Tennessee Titans being the teams to keep an eye on, in terms of such a trade
8 of the picks currently owned by the Raiders are on Day 3 of the Draft (meaning they’re in the 4th round or later)
The Raiders could actually move on from Jimmy Garoppolo rather cleanly if they released him even as early as next offseason; if they released him after the 2024 season, allowing Richardson to develop for two full seasons, the Raiders’ cap hit would be less than $4M (while saving upwards of $24M in cap space)
To be clear, I wouldn’t be surprised if they did end up taking a quarterback if they were to trade up. Remember that the Raiders were one of the teams who queried the Bears about the cost to move up to #1 overall.
For those wondering the same thing: if the Raiders really have so many glaring needs on defense, which include the interior of their defensive line in particular, what about moving up to take defensive tackle Jalen Carter? Apparently, as of the latest reporting, the Raiders have removed Carter from the draft board outright, as his well-documented driving infractions hit a bit too close to home, considering what the organization so recently went through with wide receiver Henry Ruggs.