Every offseason, there are a few players on the trading block that can be had for relatively nothing. Often, these players end up being moved and contribute in significant ways for their next team. Look no further than Marcus Peters in Los Angeles, who the Chiefs traded away for practically nothing.
It’s these type of low-risk, high-reward trades that can completely flip a team’s trajectory for the upcoming season. With that in mind, here are four players the Raiders should consider trading for this offseason.
WR John Ross, Bengals
Sometimes, all a player needs is a change of scenery to be successful. Bengals wide receiver John Ross seems like the perfect candidate to have a resurgence in his career on his second team.
Drafted by the Bengals in the top 10 in 2017, the expectations were that Ross would become the perfect complement to A.J. Green. However, Ross has dealt with injuries over the past two seasons and patience appears to be running out in Cincinnati. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Bengals are shopping the former Washington Husky receiver.
Ross has shown his talent in the NFL, catching seven touchdowns in 10 starts last season. If the Bengals are willing to move on from Ross for only a Day 3 pick, the Raiders would be smart to gamble on his upside here. Ross will likely never be a No. 1 receiver, but his speed makes him an excellent complementary player.
WR Antonio Brown, Steelers
Maybe the most likely trade the Raiders could make this offseason is acquiring wide receiver Antonio Brown. According to Ian Rapoport, the Raiders are “intrigued” by the possibility of adding Brown via trade. However, what the compensation would be, remains to be seen.
If the Raiders could acquire Brown without giving up one of their three first-round picks, this would be a worthwhile gamble. Brown has certainly done enough this offseason to force his way out of Pittsburgh, but it doesn’t appear the team is going to give him away.
Look for the Raiders to explore a trade in the near future.
QB Josh Rosen, Cardinals
Assume for a moment that the Cardinals do love Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray and are now searching for a trade partner for Josh Rosen. According to NBC Sports’ Peter King, the Cardinals would likely on “fetch a third-round pick” for Rosen in a trade.
While Oakland may not need a quarterback, giving up a third-round for Rosen would be a smart move by Mike Mayock and his staff. It also makes financial sense as Rosen is due less than $2 million guaranteed over the next three seasons. That’s significantly less than current backup A.J. McCarron.
If the move were to pay off, the Raiders would have acquired a potential franchise quarterback on a rookie contract without spending a top-65 pick. Even if he doesn’t pan out, giving up a third-round pick for a cheap backup passer isn’t a bad deal. For a team that is in a rebuild, this would be an incredible low-risk, high-reward move for the Raiders.
CB Jourdan Lewis, Cowboys
In a passing league, you can never have too many cornerbacks. That is why the Raiders should explore every avenue possible as they look to gain depth at the position. One name they could consider is Cowboys slot corner Jourdan Lewis.
Lewis has proved to be a good cornerback in the NFL, but he has been lost in the shuffle in Dallas as Anthony Brown has starred in the slot. Lewis doesn’t have great size but does have the ability to play in the slot and on the outside. He would make for a fantastic No. 3 cornerback in Oakland and wouldn’t cost an arm and leg to acquire.
The Raiders would be wise to offer a Day 3 selection in exchange for the former All-American from Michigan.
