On Monday, the Las Vegas Raiders snapped a three-game skid with a 17-13 win over the Green Bay Packers, which may turn the tide on potential trade talks before the October 31 deadline.
Amid the Raiders’ three-game losing streak, they seemed fit to approach the trade deadline as sellers, but at 2-3, with games against the New England Patriots (1-4) and Chicago Bears (1-4) next on the schedule, the Silver and Black may look to bolster the roster for a midseason run.
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Raiders have already made calls for a pass-rusher.
“The Raiders have been busy making calls around the league looking for a pass rusher since releasing Chandler Jones,” Russini wrote. “They are looking for a player-for-player swap and may not want to give up too much.”
In an ideal scenario, it sounds as though general manager Dave Ziegler wants a low-risk, high-reward pass-rusher who wouldn’t cost him a premier player or premium draft capital in return.
With that in mind, you can probably scratch Brian Burns, Danielle Hunter, and perhaps Chase Young off your wish list. All three players will likely cost a high-snap playmaker or at least a Day 2 draft pick because of their previous accomplishments or current production. Yes, that includes Young, who’s healthy with three sacks, 15 pressures, and three tackles for loss in five games.
So, we’ll discuss a few realistic trade targets whom the Raiders should inquire about in their hunt for a pass-rusher.
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New York Jets defensive end Carl Lawson
This past offseason, ESPN’s New York Jets beat reporter Rich Cimini wrote about Carl Lawson as a prime salary-cap cut candidate. Instead, Gang Green restructured his contract, but the team can still move him.
The Jets have a crowded room of edge-rushers that includes Lawson, John Franklin-Myers, Jermaine Johnson, Bryce Huff, Micheal Clemons, and rookie first-rounder Will McDonald IV.
As a result, Lawson has played fewer than 27 percent of the defensive snaps in all three of his games and sat out the previous week as a healthy scratch. Though Lawson didn’t play up to his previous three-year, $45 million contract ($30 million guaranteed), he recorded seven sacks, 26 pressures and nine tackles for loss last season.
As long as Lawson stays healthy, he can get to the quarterback with some level of consistency in a decent role. Moreover, his contract will void next offseason. He should be a priority target for the Raiders.
If the Jets trade Lawson, they would only hold on to $1.9 million in dead money, so they can afford to dump him without taking on a heavy cap penalty.
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New York Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams
As the New York Giants (1-4) fall apart, they may sell a few assets before the trade deadline. Even if they’re not aggressive on the trade market, the Raiders should make a call for Leonard Williams.
Williams has two years of experience in defensive coordinator Patrick Graham’s scheme. In fact, he had his best year under Graham, logging 57 tackles, 14 for loss, 11.5 sacks, and 42 pressures during the 2020 campaign. In the following year, Williams registered a career-high 81 tackles, five for loss, 6.5 sacks and 22 pressures.
At 6-foot-5, 300 pounds, Williams can line up as a three-technique defensive tackle, but he has the quickness to slide further outside as a five-technique defensive end in an odd-man front.
If Williams plays well in Vegas, the front office can make an attempt to extend him in the offseason. He’s 29 years old, with at least a few productive seasons left in his career.
On a sentimental note, Williams would’ve been delighted if the Raiders drafted him back in 2015—a team he grew up following—now his hopes could come full circle with an opportunity to team up with Maxx Crosby in silver and black.
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Dallas Cowboys defensive end Dante Fowler Jr.
Though Dante Fowler Jr. hasn’t fulfilled the expectations of a top-three overall draft pick, he’s made contributions as a pass-rusher at all four stops in his career, most notably with the Los Angeles Rams (11.5 sacks and 35 pressures) in 2019.
Last year, Fowler posted decent pass-rushing numbers in a backup role on the Dallas Cowboys’ front line, logging six sacks and 21 pressures while on the field for just 30 percent of the defensive snaps.
Through the first five weeks of the season, Fowler has registered four tackles, one for loss, one sack, and five pressures. Keep in mind that he has to rotate with Micah Parsons, who’s playing more snaps on the edge than in years past, DeMarcus Lawrence, Dorance Armstrong, and 2022 second-rounder Sam Williams.
With an increased workload, Fowler could provide more of an impact on the edge, and he would get that opportunity with the Raiders.
Fowler could finish out his one-year, $3 million contract as an immediate starter opposite Crosby while Tyree Wilson catches up to speed in the pros. Fowler has 40 career starts in 113 games and 42 sacks on his NFL resume. He averaged 24 pressures per season between 2019 and 2022.
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Houston Texans defensive end Jerry Hughes
Jerry Hughes isn’t a marquee name, but he’s perfect for a temporary veteran role ahead of Wilson, who needs more time to develop into a contributor.
Hughes is coming off a season in which he registered 35 tackles, 10 for loss, nine sacks, and 19 pressures as a full-time starter on the Houston Texans defensive line.
Because the Texans selected Will Anderson Jr. with the No. 3 overall pick, Hughes has seen a significant drop-off in his time on the field in a backup role.
Still, Hughes has registered 11 tackles, three for loss, a sack, and three pressures while on the field for just 40 percent of the defensive snaps. Even at 35 years old, he can solidify a team’s pass rush.
The Raiders can use Hughes as a 2023 rental in order to ease Wilson into a bigger role in the latter part of the season. For now, Hughes can provide a spark in the pass rush opposite Crosby; his contract voids in the offseason.
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Tennessee Titans edge-rusher Trevis Gipson
As arguably the most under-the-radar option on this trade target list, Trevis Gipson would’ve had more buzz in 2021, coming off a season in which he registered 39 tackles, seven for loss, 17 pressures, and seven sacks.
Gipson had a breakout second year, but he couldn’t replicate those promising numbers in 2022 as the Chicago Bears brought in a new coaching staff led by current lead skipper Matt Eberflus. Last year, he recorded 31 tackles, four for loss and three sacks with a career-high 18 pressures.
This past August, Bears general manager Ryan Poles said Gipson didn’t fit the team’s defensive scheme, which is why they cut him.
Graham isn’t a stranger to mixing things up for defensive linemen. Perhaps the Raiders can experiment with Gipson, who has some upside and a solid year on his resume. Remember, as play-callers mix in multiple fronts and alignments, the days of pure 4-3 and 3-4 defenses are in the past.
Also worthy of note, Gipson has ties to Raiders’ assistant general manager Champ Kelly, who was the Bears’ assistant director of player personnel when Chicago selected the pass-rusher in the fifth round of the 2020 draft.
Maurice Moton covers the Raiders for Sportsnaut. You can follow him on Twitter at @MoeMoton.