With The First Pick
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Should the Raiders trade up in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft?

By Alaina Morris

Jan 15, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) runs with the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half in an AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) runs with the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half in an AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Las Vegas Raiders brought in Davante Adams with hopes to bring their offense some success. By the end of the season, it was in shambles. Derek Carr was benched for Jarrett Stidham, and the Raiders finished the season with an underwhelming record of 6-11.

In the upcoming draft, the Raiders hold the 7th overall pick. Now I know that is already a pretty high pick and most teams wouldn’t consider trading up, but I think the Raiders should consider the possibility.

Here’s why: After Carr was benched, it was apparent to anyone who watches the NFL that his time with the Raiders is coming to an end if it already hasn’t. Las Vegas moving on from Carr is the only way they can move forward. There’s no question they have the weapons to do it, but they need to hand over the keys to the offense.

A team with running back Josh Jacobs, wide receiver Davante Adams, and tight end Darren Waller should not have accumulated six wins this past season.

Raiders should be looking to add one of the top QBs in the 2023 NFL Draft

The reasoning for trading up is this: there are three quarterbacks who could all find themselves being selected within the Top 5 picks. C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, and Will Levis are all being considered as the QB1 in this draft, but all of them are going to be taken fast.

This leaves the Raiders just outside that equation since they hold the 7th pick. They’d have to sit and wait to draft a quarterback in a later round, if the players previously mentioned were to get drafted when they have been predicted to.

The first thing to do if you’re the Raiders is to see the value you can get out of trading Carr, and go from there. After that, consider other notable players or draft picks worth trading.

This is certainly a position to trade up. Sitting back and hoping Levis, Stroud or Young fall into the lap of your franchise should not be the first approach. Go get your guy and let him take over with the electric offensive players you already have. This should be a trade worth making.

The Raiders need to put themselves in a position to find success, and that comes with securing a pick within the Top 5 of the 2023 NFL Draft.

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