The Oakland Raiders have been busy trading for two pass catchers already this season, but this time around they’re sending a former first-round pick to the Houston Texans.
The Raiders have traded cornerback Gareon Conley to the Houston Texans according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic. Oakland will receive a future third-round pick from Houston in exchange for Conley.
Conley has had an up and down start to his NFL career, only playing in two game his rookie season due to injuries. In 2018, his first full year it took some time for him to string things together, but in the back half of the year he became one of the better cornerbacks in the league.
This season things changed quickly as he became the Raiders figure in the secondary that opposing quarterbacks choose to attack, and Conley could do little about it. Sunday against the Packers was arguably Conley’s worst game as a Raiders and it was the final straw as the Raiders front office clearly took notice.
Through six games this season, Conley has recorded 23 total tackles, one interception and two passes defended.
With the Raiders now adding an additional mid-round pick, expect them to potentially utilize it by trading for some additional help on defense.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported yesterday that the Raiders will be buyers at the trade deadline to acquire help on the defensive line and at linebacker.
During the 2019 NFL Draft, the Raiders selected Clemson cornerback Trayvon Mullen, who will likely see his playing time increase significantly after the move. Mullen was a key in a defensive backfield that won Clemson the national title last season, and has appeared in five games this season for the Raiders
In an interesting storyline to this deal as well, the Raiders will travel to take on Conley and the Texans this Sunday in Houston. You can be sure that Derek Carr and company will look to pick on their former teammate throughout the game.