The Las Vegas Raiders' trade deadline picture has taken a surprising turn. Just a few months ago, with the addition of Pete Carroll as their head coach and Geno Smith at quarterback, there was hope that they would become contenders in the AFC. However, after a dismal stretch of games, it's clear that the team's chances of turning things around are slim.
In fact, according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Raiders have informed several teams that they won't be parting with two key players: Eric Stokes and Michael Mayer. The reasoning behind this decision is likely due to the team's dire need for talent and its inability to build a strong roster without making significant moves.
Stokes, a cornerback, has been one of the most notable trade candidates, but the Raiders have rebuffed interest from other teams. Meanwhile, Mayer, a tight end, has drawn attention due to his potential value in a trade - not least because Brock Bowers, widely regarded as the best tight end in the league, is on the roster.
However, Breer's assessment suggests that keeping Mayer might be a better option than trading him. With Bowers at the helm, Mayer could become redundant, and the team may want to hold onto its current assets rather than risking them for future compensation that may not materialize.
The Raiders' trade strategy is also complicated by the fact that Carroll is trying to build a program, but lacks the necessary talent to do so. Trades involving guards like Jackson Powers-Johnson have been discussed, and even Jakobi Meyers, whose name has long been mentioned in trade rumors, might be considered if his deal isn't extended.
Ultimately, the Raiders' decision to keep Stokes and Mayer is likely a reflection of their desire to avoid further depleting their roster without any certainty about what they'll get in return.
In fact, according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Raiders have informed several teams that they won't be parting with two key players: Eric Stokes and Michael Mayer. The reasoning behind this decision is likely due to the team's dire need for talent and its inability to build a strong roster without making significant moves.
Stokes, a cornerback, has been one of the most notable trade candidates, but the Raiders have rebuffed interest from other teams. Meanwhile, Mayer, a tight end, has drawn attention due to his potential value in a trade - not least because Brock Bowers, widely regarded as the best tight end in the league, is on the roster.
However, Breer's assessment suggests that keeping Mayer might be a better option than trading him. With Bowers at the helm, Mayer could become redundant, and the team may want to hold onto its current assets rather than risking them for future compensation that may not materialize.
The Raiders' trade strategy is also complicated by the fact that Carroll is trying to build a program, but lacks the necessary talent to do so. Trades involving guards like Jackson Powers-Johnson have been discussed, and even Jakobi Meyers, whose name has long been mentioned in trade rumors, might be considered if his deal isn't extended.
Ultimately, the Raiders' decision to keep Stokes and Mayer is likely a reflection of their desire to avoid further depleting their roster without any certainty about what they'll get in return.
. Reminds me of 2018 when the Raiders were supposed to be contenders too, but that didn't work out 
. Anyway, keeping Stokes and Mayer is like what the Giants did with Saquon Barkley back in '21 - they held onto him just in case he became overvalued 
. I don't get why teams are so afraid of losing talent for future picks though... just like how my old school's team lost all their top players in college and had to rebuild from scratch 
. The Raiders need to be smart about this trade stuff, not just hold onto guys for the sake of holding on 
.
stokes and Mayer gotta be considered as assets, not tradable pieces, and Carroll's program thingy just makes it harder for them to make decisions 
they need to focus on building that roster ASAP or else they'll get left behind 
. And yeah, if Bowers is basically the best tight end in the league, Mayer's role is pretty much done 
. It just feels like they're not giving up on a lost cause 
at least they're making moves right? keeping Stokes and Mayer might seem like a safe bet but it's also kinda risk-averting... what if Bowers doesn't pan out as expected? can you imagine a Raiders season without any real threats to their opponents' defenses?