One trade the Raiders need to make before the 2022 NFL Draft
The Raiders have a lot of questions heading into this off-season. However, there is a trade they could make which could change their fortunes.
I am still a little surprised the Raiders didn’t retain their interim head coach after he was able to get that team to rally around him, post-Gruden.
After cutting Henry Ruggs III, and having Zay Jones and DeSean Jackson as free agents. The Raiders need to try and make a trade for a WR. Not only to help out a team decimated at the position, but it will also give them more clarity in the draft. Hunter Renfrow has been a major surprise for them, but he can’t do it all.
With another decently loaded class of WRs it might make for some WR to be had for cheap, that doesn’t mean they don’t have to bypass the position in FA or the NFL Draft. But, it could allow them to use their first few picks on a struggling defense.
The Raiders right now have just over 21MM in cap space heading into the off-season with 50 players currently under contract.
So they have enough flex to pretty much go out and trade for anyone they want and still fill out a roster with some minor adjustments here and there. With a new regime in Las Vegas, I would look for them to put their stamp on the roster quickly. Before, the rest of the division continues to grow ever more powerful.
Who should the silver and black trade for?
Right now their two biggest needs to most people would be WR or CB. I would look for them to go after WR in a trade rather than a corner, as the corner market and depth in the draft looks to be quite strong. So who is the one?
Yes, I am aware of his current mental issues and stepping away from the game. But, he only has one year left on his deal with just an 8MM cap hit this year. The Falcons are heading in a new direction or so it seems in the next few years, and I can’t see them offering Ridley a big deal considering what is going on.
At one point Ridley looked to be one of the next best WR in the NFL before his wild 2021 season.
The Raiders could use a flier on him, not giving up much back knowing that he will need a new deal next year, and he seems to be done with the Falcons for whatever reason. They should be looking to deal him soon, as long as his mental checks out they could have a steal on their hands with Ridley.
Pending they don’t bring back Zay Jones and D-Jax, having Ridley and Renfrow would be a good 1-2 to have going into FA and the draft and build up from there. At 27-years-old Ridley has a lot left in the tank and is one year removed from his 15 game, 90 catches, 1,374 yards, and nine touchdown season. Where he had just shy of a 63% catch rate.
It is not the first time we have seen a WR step away from the game, or wear out their welcome on a team and get traded for almost nothing. I would expect the same here, and the Raiders have the draft capital to be able to pull it off, maybe kicking in a player.
Next. Who sent their draft stock into space at the Senior Bowl?. dark
I have faith that Ridley on a new team can get back to his former self and create a real spark on a growing offense. Only two players last year cracked over 600 yards receiving one of which being Darren Waller, Te. As for Edwards and Waller, both had a lower catch per target avg than Ridley did in his full year in 2020, with an aging Matt Ryan.