The Las Vegas Raiders have been in trade rumors the last two weeks, and that's largely because Davante Adams, for some odd reason, is demanding to be traded from one sub-par team with no quarterback, to another subpar team that is having coaching issues, as they just fired Robert Saleh at the New York Jets. But, that's not the only trade that could happen.
The Raiders are obviously in the market for a quarterback. Them benching Gardner Minshew after an abysmal showing against the Denver Broncos, only for Aidan O'Connell to come in and do the same thing, shows that they are in desperate need of a quarterback if they want to solve this season's biggest problem, and fix the season before it's too late.
So, who's to say the Raiders don't trade for a quarterback? They have plenty of cap space, maybe too much to be honest. And, several teams have quarterbacks they are willing to trade away, or even cut that the Raiders could pick up. There are two in particular that have won Super Bowls, and that has to be enticing to the Raiders.
Now, there isn't a report out there or anything, but, two insiders have shared thoughts on some possible things that could happen in the quarterback market before the trade deadline, and, well, the Raiders name showed up. It's long, and it's more of a conversation and a back-and-forth, so, read what Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano said:
Dan Graziano: I was in Pittsburgh for Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys, and talking to people there I definitely did not get the sense Justin Fields was on thin ice or that the coaching staff was looking for a reason to turn it over to Wilson. I'm not sure how Wilson improves anything there unless all of a sudden the running backs and the offensive line are all healthy and they bring in two new wide receivers.
So, it's interesting to see what coach Mike Tomlin does on this, but I'm sticking with my prediction that Wilson never plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers unless Fields gets hurt. It's also worth remembering Wilson's one-year, minimum-salary contract includes a no-trade clause. It's possible this ends with him getting released, not traded.
Jeremy Fowler: Wilson's minimum salary would be attractive for teams, assuming he would waive his no-trade clause. And the Raiders were once on his desired list of destinations. This is reaching a boiling point, as Wilson appears to be approaching full health and the Steelers haven't shown an eagerness to move off Fields just yet. They might need both quarterbacks at some point, and people in the building heavily favored Wilson as the No. 1 option not long ago.
If Wilson doesn't have a clear path on the field, will he be a supportive backup? That remains to be seen.
Graziano: Right. That's why it's more about plotting an exit strategy for Wilson in Pittsburgh than anything else. I don't know who the team is that would give up assets for Wilson right now, but it's certainly possible one does and that he ends up being the answer to this question.
Let me pivot completely, though, because this came up a few weeks ago as a possibility. With the Los Angeles Rams' season on life support, could you see a team going to them and asking about Matthew Stafford? It might take an injury to an established starter on a contending team, but I wonder if the Rams or Stafford would consider it.
Fowler: Definitely. The Rams have looked at Stafford's future as a year-to-year proposition. His reworked contract last offseason reflects that, pushing his 2024 pay into the $40 million range but lessening his guarantees in 2025, essentially allowing both sides to decide whether they want to remain married at that point. This is a situation to watch closely, because neither player nor team seems to know how or when it will end. Stafford is 36 and has dealt with injuries recently. Does he want to play after this season?
The Raiders could get Russell Wilson, as Justin Fields is showing he's the real deal in Pittsburgh. Or, they could go after Matthew Stafford, two guys who have won Super Bowls and played at the highest level you possibly can. That very well could be something the Raiders are interested in.
And, some of you may same, but what about the Raiders drafting a quarterback next season? Well, this would strictly be this season thing for Wilson, to try and salvage whatever they can of the season. As for Stafford, that could be something where the rookie they draft next year sits behind Stafford and learns from one of the most talented guys we have ever seen throw the ball.
It's not a bad idea, and it could happen.
