Possible trade scenarios for Sio Moore

1 of 4

Nov 20, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders lineabcker Sio Moore (55) celebrates after the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Chiefs 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Last night the Raiders preseason wrapped up their 2015 season, falling to the Seattle Seahawks 31-21. The game was marked by a lot of late scoring and the absence of most of the impact starters, like quarterback Derek Carr, who did not take a snap in the game.

Another notable near absence was linebacker Sio Moore, who did not enter the game with a defensive unit until midway through the 4th quarter and was relegated to only special teams duties for most of the game. Moore, who had started 22 games over the past two seasons for the Raiders after being taken in the 3rd round of the 2013 draft, also took only a handful of special teams snaps in the prior game against Arizona – the so called “dress rehearsal” – after missing much of the Raiders’ offseason program recovering from hip surgery.

More from Las Vegas Raiders News

Moore’s absence from the team’s defense raised a lot of questions by fans and members of the media, as Moore was considered one of the bright spots on the team’s defense in 2013 and 2014 and one of the key members of a young core of players that had been drafted by GM Reggie McKenzie. Moore, who generally lined up at the Will linebacker position, had accounted for 7.5 sacks and 105 tackles in 26 appearances for the Raiders.

Going into preseason, he had been supplanted as the starting Will backer by free agent acquisition Malcolm Smith, a former Super Bowl MVP who new Raider DC Ken Norton, Jr. had coached both at USC and in Seattle. The move was hardly a shock because of Moore’s injury issues and Smith showed very well in practice and preseason games. But after last night, Moore appears to be in the coaching staff’s doghouse, with head coach Jack Del Rio stating “players get what they earn” in response to questions about Moore’s limited role.

Moore has apparently found himself in the bad graces of his coaching staff and may be shown the door soon. The Raiders may opt to release him tomorrow as part of the roster cuts down to 53 men, which won’t cost the team too much in terms of money as Moore is still on a very inexpensive rookie deal that will cost the Raiders only around $370K in dead cap money this year and $173K in dead cap next year if he is released.

However, the Raiders may choose to shop Moore, a very talented young linebacker, in an attempt to add veteran talent to help out the offensive line or perhaps shore up a young cornerbacks group that got even younger when veterans Ras-I Dowling and James Dockery were released earlier this week. Moore is seemingly all upside: young, inexpensive and has the skill and talent to be at least a situational linebacker if not a full-time every down starter.

So what teams could potentially be interested in Moore? What scenarios would work out for the Raiders? What would Moore be forced to change his twitter @ name to? Here are a few completely speculative possibilities:

Next: Possibility #1: San Francisco

Home/Las Vegas Raiders News