Raiders and New England Patriots: Trade No. 2
Mayock can get a little creative here. The Raiders should ask for Devin McCourty in a deal.
Yes, McCourty turns 34 years old in August with one year left on his contract. The final three terms of his deal will automatically void after the 2021 campaign, per Over the Cap.
On other hand, McCourty can still play at a decent level and start for the Raiders, who need deep safety alongside Johnathan Abram. In 2020, he recorded six pass breakups and two interceptions, which included a pick-six.
NBC Sports Boston’s Nick Goss also noted McCourty’s leadership in addition to his production this past season.
"“The Patriots defense has been up-and-down throughout 2020, and McCourty has been one of the unit’s top players,” Nick Goss wrote. “New England’s secondary also features several young players who benefit from McCourty’s leadership and experience.”"
Patriots’ special teams ace Matthew Slater also talked about McCourty’s intangibles while honoring him during a fundraiser (h/t NESN’s Zack Cox).
"“I think we’re a very competitive group,” Slater said. “We have tremendous leadership — you’re looking at the unquestioned leader of our football team in Devin. Our vision is the same, the way we’re going to approach our preparation is the same.”"
The Raiders have a young secondary that needs an outspoken veteran who can walk it like he talks it on and off the field. For a season, McCourty could help Abram, Trayvon Mullen, Damon Arnette, and Amik Robertson in the early stages of their careers.
This is also a chess move to land Devin’s twin brother Jason McCourty in free agency. The latter would handle a limited role on the boundary. That’s important because, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Raiders want a veteran cover man to mesh with Arnette and Mullen—not replace them.
"“For development purposes, the Raiders want Arnette and Mullen on the field as much as possible, so a Sherman acquisition would be in conjunction with the young corners rather than at someone’s expense,” Bonsignore wrote."
If Sherman doesn’t come to Vegas, the Raiders can make plans for the McCourty brothers, acquiring Devin via trade to start until a young safety earns the job and signing Jason as low-cost acquisitions.
With the McCourtys in the locker room, the Raiders will have two guys able to keep a young roster focused down the stretch.